22 July 2024

It continues to be a horribly fraught time for the U.S. Secret Service, as it is investigated for security failures leading up to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13.

Now, the Wall Street Journal has broken the news that 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks flew a DJI camera drone over the rally site hours before Trump appeared. It is speculated—though not proven—that Crooks may have used the drone footage to get a better idea of where to set up his "shot spot," or determine other parts of his plan.

The former President took a shot to his ear after Crooks fired on him from his position on a roof. Crooks also murdered a bystander and wounded others before he was killed by the Secret Service. 

The Droning Company was one of the first media outlets to question why the Secret Service did not deploy defensive drones before and during the rally. READ THE STORY. 

Not only is it unfathomable the Secret Service did not use drones for surveillance, Crooks should not have been able to launch his own drone, as federal authorities often ban drone flights over the perimeters they are tasked with securing. In this case, the FAA did put a temporary flight restriction on the rally, but it's unclear if the almost two-hour restriction was long enough to stop Crooks' drone reconnaissance, or if the no-flight window was modified.

A DJI drone and other drone gear were found in Crooks’ vehicle.