A newly released photo shows a cellphone and a transmitter found next to the body of Thomas Matthew Crooks after his unsuccessful assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday, per Fox News.
The disturbing image, which was obtained by WPXI, a Pittsburgh-based news outlet showed a gray remote and smartphone that was confiscated by law enforcement.
A member of the Secret Service team fatally shot Crooks after shooting the former president’s ear, killed an innocent rally-goer, and injured two more.
Authorities believe that the remote was linked to an explosive device inside Crooks’ car. It never detonated.
Law enforcement is currently investigating whether the device was meant to cause more damage at the site or to create a distraction during his assassination attempt.
The outlet also reported that local officers took pictures of Crooks almost 30 minutes before the incident.
He first gained attention after passing through security several hours before Trump took the stage. Crooks had a rangefinder on him, CNN reported.
The device is often used by target shooters and hunters for gauging the distance of long-range targets, similar to binoculars.
A local officer also encountered Crooks around 5:45 p.m., took a picture of him, and went to notify other officers.
An officer came in direct contact with the shooter after being lifted onto the roof. Once Crooks pointed his rifle at him, the officer fell. A few seconds later, Crooks shot Trump and other rally-goers.
According to CNN, Crooks was able to access the roof by climbing onto an air-conditioning unit. He told his boss at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center that he would not be able to work that day because he had “something to do.”
He told his boss that he would probably be back to work on Sunday, but that decision fell through when a Secret Service agent took him down.
Many have criticized the Secret Service for their failure to prevent the tragic events from Saturday from happening. The government agency and local law enforcement have placed the blame on one another.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said that it was local law enforcement’s responsibility to secure the roof. She also claimed that the roof’s angle was a hindrance, stating that its slope was unsafe for agents. Her critics have pointed out that the “sloped” roof did not deter Crooks from shooting Trump and other victims.
Local law enforcement, however, claimed that the Secret Service dropped the ball since they outranked them.
