Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities' radar more than 90 minutes before shooting - report | 29 July 2024 | Would-be Donald Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks landed on authorities' radar more than 90 minutes before he opened fire at the former president's Pennsylvania campaign rally -- roughly a half hour more than what officials previously claimed -- according to newly released text messages. Text messages between members of the Beaver County Emergency Service Unit obtained by the New York Times revealed a more concrete -- and earlier -- timeline leading up to the shooting that grazed the former president's ear, injured two rally-goers and killed one. The messages also revealed that Crooks, 20, was aware of the law enforcement presence as he prepared his assassination attempt on the GOP nominee. "Someone followed our lead and snuck in and parked by our cars just so you know," a counter-sniper texted a colleague as he headed out around 4:26 p.m.