The FBI, under President Biden’s administration, announced that they believe the would-be assassin at former President Trump’s Pennsylvania rally on Saturday acted alone. This statement comes despite the bureau’s current inability to access data from the suspect’s cell phone, which has been sent to Quantico for further examination.
Kevin Rojek, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Pittsburgh, stated that the information available suggests there is no ongoing public safety concern. However, he emphasized that the investigation is still in its early stages, as reported by Fox News.
“We have not identified an ideology associated with the subject, but I want to remind everyone that we’re still very early in this investigation,” Rojek said during a press conference on Sunday.
The FBI is actively engaging with the suspect’s friends and family to determine if anyone had prior knowledge of his plans. According to the AP, the FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
In a statement released Sunday, the FBI said:
“The FBI is investigating the shooting incident at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in one victim’s death and injuries to former President Trump and other spectators, as an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism.
While the investigation to date indicates the shooter acted alone, the FBI continues to conduct logical investigative activity to determine if there were any co-conspirators associated with this attack. At this time, there are no current public safety concerns.
The FBI has not identified a motive for the shooter’s actions, but we are working to determine the sequence of events and the shooter’s movements prior to the shooting, collecting and reviewing evidence, conducting interviews, and following up on all leads. We have also obtained the shooter’s telephone for examination.
The FBI has searched the shooter’s home and vehicle to collect additional evidence. Suspicious devices found at both locations have been rendered safe by bomb technicians and are being evaluated at the FBI Laboratory.
The firearm used in the shooting was purchased legally.
The shooter was not known to the FBI prior to this incident.”
The suspect’s cell phone, which could hold vital clues to understanding the motivations behind the attack, has been transported to the FBI’s forensic lab in Quantico. However, the bureau has so far been unable to access any data from it.
Laura Ingraham, on her prime-time show, said, “The FBI is telling Fox they believe the shooter acted alone. We’re also learning that they can’t get into his cell phone. They have it at Quantico, but haven’t been able to get any data out of it.”
“They can’t get in the shooters cell phone?”
Karli Bonne — @KarluskaP
The question remains as the investigation continues, with the FBI working to unlock the potential information contained within the suspect’s cell phone.