Good point. If that's his head we're seeing, then he's surely further back than the back side of the slope of AGR#6. He could be running atop the building behind it. And yeah, it's a shame we only get 14 seconds of it.
Failed Trump Assassination Attempt
- Thread starter Tristan
- Start date
Now the eyewitness's statement in this 'original' video of Crooks on the rooftop, from 0:14 - 0:16, makes more sense:
"Oh he's turning this way, be careful guys."
After which you hear the final 'crack' shot.
What strikes me a bit off if Crooks was really hit from the back or more from the front. Unfortunately, we only have a few images available to come closer to a solution. And I can be off, of course. Sorry, for the picture again.
The red mark looks to me like if the skin goes to the outside, which is more likely for an exit wound. Most often, and judging from shooting game, the entry wound is minimal, and often you even need to search for it. The exit wound depends then on the bullet, though I don't know what military or snipers use, and I'm lacking the proper English names: full metal jacket, or tipped ones? No matter what, when a bullet exists a body, the skin goes outside, because of the strength/force.
The hair could also be blown up when it exists on the back. And also maybe he was lifting his head to look, what damage he had done, where the sniper could see him. Which is also normal after shooting, to get an overview of the scene. Depends if a shooter is used to use both eyes for aiming and only concentrates on the one eye in front of the sight or if he closes one.
The red mark looks to me like if the skin goes to the outside, which is more likely for an exit wound. Most often, and judging from shooting game, the entry wound is minimal, and often you even need to search for it. The exit wound depends then on the bullet, though I don't know what military or snipers use, and I'm lacking the proper English names: full metal jacket, or tipped ones? No matter what, when a bullet exists a body, the skin goes outside, because of the strength/force.
The hair could also be blown up when it exists on the back. And also maybe he was lifting his head to look, what damage he had done, where the sniper could see him. Which is also normal after shooting, to get an overview of the scene. Depends if a shooter is used to use both eyes for aiming and only concentrates on the one eye in front of the sight or if he closes one.
The guy who filmed that 'original' footage of Crooks taking up his firing position is Mike DiFrischia, and he added another data point about that day:
And now, also, I think what we're seeing in the following video is that Crooks has just hauled himself up onto the back slope of AGR#6 after crossing the connecting 'hallway' between that building and the one behind it:
A still from the above video:
Notice the number 12 on the doorway. That's not the 'connecting hallway' I'm thinking of. I think he's further away, and has just crossed the 'hallway' we've already thought he might have crossed to reach his firing position:
If he did come through that window at the end of the two-storey building, then surely he would have been let in. Remember, both SS and SWAT were stationed there...
Benjamin
The Living Force
Yeah, that door 12 hallway is not the one I was referring to, although I didn't make that clear, because it links AGR#6 with the two-story building.
To use your image @Niall, I made a theoretical route, in yellow, if Crooks used the ladder on AGR#3 (I said #2 before. Oops). Also, that slightly open window cannot see Trump but, in blue, is a theoretical shot from behind.
I don't know how long after Crooks was killed that this video was taken, but the front door of #6 is a double door. The right door looks propped open. It probably doesn't mean much, but thought I'd just point it out.
I don't mean to complicate already complex situation.
Regarding this picture, there were some questions raised at that time on X, how blood looked dried so quickly questioning the veracity of the picture. I didn't follow those line of questions Google search shows few results
May be it is related to heat and it was pretty hot in the NE in any case. If I remember correctly (July 13th I think), this picture was first posted by some military connected guy and there are people who asked the quickness of this picture at that time.
Benjamin
The Living Force
A question for gun owners, could a person break down the rifle Crooks used and carry it in a backpack? Then reassemble it, say, on a roof? He's been recorded as wandering around and he doesn't look like he's carrying anything large, at least. So where did he store his stuff?
In this long article, it's mentioned that there were three suspicious vehicles, a bike (with photos and location), a car and a van, none of which anything is known about to the public yet, other then a report of 'bomb making materials' found inside 'a vehicle'.
I found this quote in the article interesting:
Was Crooks' rifle in 'his possession' (could've been stashed) the whole time; was it reassembled (on the roof of AGR#3?); was it given to him at the side window; was it already in place? Maybe these were already answered?
In this long article, it's mentioned that there were three suspicious vehicles, a bike (with photos and location), a car and a van, none of which anything is known about to the public yet, other then a report of 'bomb making materials' found inside 'a vehicle'.
I found this quote in the article interesting:
Was Crooks' rifle in 'his possession' (could've been stashed) the whole time; was it reassembled (on the roof of AGR#3?); was it given to him at the side window; was it already in place? Maybe these were already answered?
The Mechanic
Jedi Council Member
Have the women who can be heard screaming "Crooks! Get over here!" and "Crooks! What are you doing!" been identified? They can be heard in other videos as well.
Benjamin
The Living Force
It sounds like 'Russ' to me.
Brewer
Jedi Master
I can't find the article! They made you take it down?!
If it was a 5.56 or .223, it's a versatile round. You can tailor make your cartridges as desired by changing propellant quantities/type and using different projectiles. You can make them light, fast, frangible and flat shooting or heavy, slow and sub sonic. Sub sonic with a silencer would be ideal for tying up any loose ends. As long as you had a compliant coroner.
If a .223 hit him below the ear it would've ruptured the structures of the inner ear and the eardrum, the heart could continue beating and blood would well within the ear and trickle out. Blood would exit the entry wound too as indicated by the photo which I can't see anymore unfortunately.
Looking at the rooftop footage, it appears that that his heart was still beating post shooting with enough strength to pump blood uphill and out of his wounds until he bled out. I doubt this would've happened if he was hit in the face with a 300 Win Mag at 150 yards, heart would've stopped very quickly due to the massive trauma. There'd also be pieces of skull, blood and brain matter over the roof behind him. A 5.56 or .233 at 150 yards in the face? Depending on the bullet and barrel length, short barrel means less power and the lighter projectile bleeds energy much faster than the heavy bullet of a 300 Win Mag you'd have a fractured skull and perhaps an exit wound but nowhere near as much damage. Thanks Joe and thanks for your input everybody.
I think you're right, consistent with entry from the back, not a good viewing angle but its a fit. Still is from this Indian government video analyzing bullet wounds, gruesome but educational. It's consistent with a gunshot suicide I attended years ago too.
If it was a 5.56 or .223, it's a versatile round. You can tailor make your cartridges as desired by changing propellant quantities/type and using different projectiles. You can make them light, fast, frangible and flat shooting or heavy, slow and sub sonic. Sub sonic with a silencer would be ideal for tying up any loose ends. As long as you had a compliant coroner.
If a .223 hit him below the ear it would've ruptured the structures of the inner ear and the eardrum, the heart could continue beating and blood would well within the ear and trickle out. Blood would exit the entry wound too as indicated by the photo which I can't see anymore unfortunately.
Looking at the rooftop footage, it appears that that his heart was still beating post shooting with enough strength to pump blood uphill and out of his wounds until he bled out. I doubt this would've happened if he was hit in the face with a 300 Win Mag at 150 yards, heart would've stopped very quickly due to the massive trauma. There'd also be pieces of skull, blood and brain matter over the roof behind him. A 5.56 or .233 at 150 yards in the face? Depending on the bullet and barrel length, short barrel means less power and the lighter projectile bleeds energy much faster than the heavy bullet of a 300 Win Mag you'd have a fractured skull and perhaps an exit wound but nowhere near as much damage. Thanks Joe and thanks for your input everybody.
FBI director Wray did testify that Crooks rifle had a collapsible stock.
From the article:
Thomas Crooks, the shooter who killed one person and injured Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on July 13, may have possessed a collapsible stock weapon, FBI director Christopher Wray told lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Wray stressed to the House's judiciary committee that it wasn't a final conclusion, as FBI agents and other law enforcement officials continue to investigate the shocking event. But it could explain one of the questions yet to be answered: specifically, how Crooks was seen on the ground by some individuals before the shooting in Butler, Pa., but was not viewed in possession of a gun until he climbed his perch on a nearby roof.
"The weapon had a collapsible stock which might explain why it was less easy to observe," he said.
cholas
Dagobah Resident
And is it really Crooks? The "bat-wing" shape appears on his right ear in many photos. Not so much the left. Could be the photo was reversed? Or shopped?
Why are almost all photos of him from school? 5 or so years ago (or more)?
In the photo of him on the wall: no bat ear. (apparently showing left side).