FBI now thinks gaming account in Trump shooter's name that issued warning was not his: CNN report

The gunman, who posted the message on a gaming platform, killed a firefighter who was attending the rally with his family and critically injured two other attendees.

By Nicholas Ballasy

Published: July 18, 2024 11:52am

Updated: July 18, 2024 1:23pm

CNN is reporting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation now thinks the gunman who shot former President Donald Trump at an outdoor campaign rally last weekend did not write an anonymous message on the gaming platform Steam in the days leading up to the assassination attempt.

Apparently the account traced back to that message was in the shooter's name, Matthew Thomas Crooks, but it wasn't his, according to the new report out on Thursday.

The shooting killed a firefighter who was attending the rally with his family and critically injured two other attendees.

The Steam message reportedly surfaced during the Secret Service and FBI briefing with lawmakers on Wednesday.

An account originally thought to be shooter's had posted that "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds."

Officials reportedly also said at the briefing that Crooks used the gaming platform Discord. The company said it hasn't discovered any evidence that Crooks had used it to "plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views.”