The rifle-wielding gunman who took aim at former President Donald Trump reportedly called out of work Saturday — the day of the assassination attempt — and told colleagues he'd be back on the job Sunday.
Thomas Crooks, the Pennsylvania man identified by authorities as the shooter who fired an AR-15 at Trump's rally in Butler, grazing the former president's ear and killing another man, told his boss he had “something to do” and requested off on Saturday, CNN reported, citing law enforcement officials.
Crooks reportedly told coworkers he'd be back to work the following day.
At the rally, security staff keyed in on Crooks because he brought a range-finder to the rally and brought it through magnetometers, according to the report. Authorities believe that a sniper team saw Crooks looking at their position through the rangefinder "while he was looking at them,” the official told the news outlet.
Just before firing on Trump and the rallygoers, Crooks climbed to the roof of the nearby building via an air conditioning system, officials said.
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