A suspicious person noticed by a local counter-sniper sitting at a picnic table near the American Glass Research complex at 4:26 p.m. July 13 was not would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks but rather someone with “similar visual appearance,” U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said. A text message sent by the counter-sniper to other local SWAT operators inside the AGR complex in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, referred to a suspicious person seated at a picnic table who apparently saw the sniper leaving for the day with his weapon. That person was not Crooks, Grassley said in a statement. “I'm just letting you know because you see me go out with my rifle and put it in my car so he knows you guys are up there,” the SWAT operator texted to the other local counter-snipers at 4:26 p.m. “He’s sitting to the direct right on a picnic table about 50 yards from the exit.” 'The subject was only on the roof for approximately 6 minutes prior to the shooting.' The July 13 timeline correction was prompted by the posting of new cellphone video on social media showing would-be assassin Crooks walking along vendor tables in an area outside the security perimeter south of the Butler Farm Show Inc. grandstands. The change is significant because it means local police did not see Crooks and identify him as a suspicious person until 5:10 p.m., when he was spotted on the west end of AGR Building 3, north of the security perimeter for the Donald J. Trump rally. The earlier alleged sighting was mistakenly identified as Crooks. “Additional findings and subsequent source interviews indicate this was an unknown individual who was considered suspicious by Beaver County law enforcement,” a Grassley spokeswoman said in an email to news media. Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired eight shots from his AR-15-style rifle into the Trump rally crowd at 6:11 p.m. July 13, wounding Trump in the right ear, killing volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore, and wounding bystanders David Dutch and James Copenhaver. The attempted assassination sparked at least 10 federal and state investigations by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, plus an independent probe led by Republican U.S. Reps. Eli Crane of Arizona and Cory Mills of Florida. Grassley’s update confirms video posted on social media by clothing vendor Joe Tomko of Iron Clad USA, showing Crooks walking along a line of merchandise vendors outside the secure area for the Trump event at 4:26 p.m. Crooks was wearing the same light shorts, gray T-shirt, and black socks as the dead body on the roof after the shooting. Tomko’s video appears to be the first showing Crooks on July 13 after the would-be assassin arrived at the venue at 3:45 p.m. Tomko’s video shows his phone’s metadata including its precise location when it captured the footage of Crooks. In a conference call with news media on Aug. 28, the FBI confirmed the sighting of Crooks among merchant tables south of the grandstands. Local counter-sniper Greg Nicol of the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit SWAT first spotted Crooks as a suspicious person at 5:10 p.m. Nicol snapped two photographs of Crooks leaning against a retaining wall of AGR Building 3 at 5:14 p.m. Nicol was identified as the counter-sniper who took the photos by a fellow Beaver County SWAT operator filmed on police bodycam footage after the shooting. A local police sniper took photos of would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks at a retaining wall near the building he used as a perch to shoot former President Donald J. Trump on July 13. Photos via U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) According to an updated timeline released Aug. 29 by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Nicol (identified as "AGR Sniper1") observed Crooks at 5:32 p.m. looking at his phone and operating a range finder — a device used in shooting and sports to estimate distance to a target. Rifle damaged but functional In other case developments, photos released by the FBI show the stock of Crooks’ AR-15-style rifle was damaged, likely by a bullet fired by a Butler Emergency Services Unit SWAT operator just as Crooks fired his eighth shot into the rally crowd. The FBI evidence photo of Crooks’ rifle shows a missing section along the top of the collapsible stock, with ragged edges where the polymer material appears to be blown away. In a preliminary report to the bipartisan Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) reported that Crooks was “fragged” in the face, neck, and shoulder when the SWAT bullet hit the rifle stock. Crooks stopped firing at that point and was killed by a counter-sniper before he could fire another shot. FBI evidence photo shows damage to the stock of the AR-15-style rifle used by would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks in Butler Township, Pa., on July 13, 2024. FBI photo; detail enlarged by Blaze News Lab tests done by the FBI found the rifle was still fully functional. Higgins earlier said he thought the SWAT bullet might have disabled Crooks’ rifle by damaging its buffer tube. Higgins wrote, “If his AR buffer tube was damaged, Crooks’ rifle would not fire after his eighth shot.” In an Aug. 28 media call, the FBI said Crooks accessed the roof of the AGR complex at 6:05 p.m. by climbing on an air-conditioning unit between Building 9 and Building 2, well north of where he eventually perched for the shooting. “Our overall finding is the subject was only on the roof for approximately 6 minutes prior to the shooting, between 6:05 and 6:11 p.m.,” said Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office. Rojek said the toxicology tests done as part of Crooks’ autopsy “revealed negative results, quote, ‘for alcohol and drugs of abuse.’” He did not indicate whether prescription medications were found in toxicology tests. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

“When I was down on my luck, Kamala Harris was there for me. She was a great friend. She is always there to lend an ear. She's been charitable. She's been generous. She went out of her way to help me” — said no one ever. “I have never heard a story like that, and that's saying something when you have a media that is completely serving her,” Allie Beth Stuckey tells Liz Wheeler. “You know we would hear [positive stories] if they were there.” That’s not to say that there aren’t stories about Kamala from people who knew her intimately, however. There are indeed tales of Kamala’s kindness, but they’re about the lack thereof. - YouTube www.youtube.com “All I've ever heard … is that she is ruthless. When you are no longer serving her, she will push you out of the way — like Willie Brown — and that she’s really tough to work with and that she is really a nightmare in the office,” Allie continues. On the subject of Brown, Liz adds that it is “confirmed” that Kamala “slept her way into politics” by “having an affair” with Brown, who “was married” at the time. “Willie Brown himself said, ‘yes, I appointed her to a certain board with a certain amount of money paid to her because I was having an affair with her.’” “Then when she actually became district attorney, [Brown] says in the San Francisco Chronicle that she wrote him a letter that says basically ‘never talk to me, and if you so much as jaywalk, I'm going to put you in jail.’ Like she is ruthless; she is cruel. She used him, abused him, got what she wanted, and then she moved on,” Allie adds. But Kamala’s cruelty didn’t end with her affair. “When she was AG of California, what she did to pro-lifers — trying to force pregnancy centers to advertise for abortion, raiding David Daleiden’s home rather than investigating Planned Parenthood when it looked like Planned Parenthood was doing a pay-for-play thing with baby body parts. I mean, she is a cruel person; she is bloodthirsty. She will sacrifice every single one of your freedoms on the altar of the LGBTQ and abortion lobbies,” says Allie. Now compare the stories about Kamala to the stories about Donald Trump. “Those of us who know Trump know that he is very compassionate. … He's compassionate in the way that we all should be — and that is he's not showy about it. If someone is telling him a hard story, he is present, he looks right into your eyes, he listens, and he has a very compassionate response, both verbally, physically, and depending on how he can help, politically,” says Liz, adding that Trump’s “family is incredibly stable, his children surround him all the time, [and] his grandchildren know him.” To hear more of the conversation, watch the clip above. Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

A 90-year-old Navy veteran was fatally shot and run over during a carjacking outside a Houston retirement home over the weekend, police told KTRK-TV.The victim has been identified as Nelson Beckett, the station said.'I think the neighborhood would feel safer if there were police patrols instead of just when something bad happens.'Police told KTRK that Beckett was in the parking lot of Lonestar Living on Westbrae Parkway around 12:45 p.m. Saturday when a man in his late 20s approached the victim and began talking to him.Investigators told the station that surveillance video shows the suspect attacking Beckett before shooting him and getting into the victim's car. What's more, police told KTRK the suspect ran over Beckett during the getaway.Beckett was pronounced dead at a hospital, and his car was found abandoned at an apartment complex less than three miles away, the station said.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case:, — (@) The victim's son, Tim Beckett, told KTRK in a follow-up story that he hopes the suspect is caught and that he's "thankful" for the outpouring of support in the wake of his father's killing.Tim Beckett added to the station that his dad leaves behind two children, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He also told KTRK that his father attended Abilene Christian University, worked in sales after his naval service, and was active at Southwest Central Church."What a foolish, brutal act against the mildest of men, an act that makes absolutely no sense," Southwest Central senior minister Steve Sargent said during a Sunday service, according to the station.Sargent also said Beckett attended a funeral at the church just days before he was killed, KTRK said.Crime statistics from January until the end of June this year show at least 61 crime reports along Westbrae Parkway near where Beckett was killed, the station said, adding that 81 crime reports were filed for the same area over the entirety of 2023.At least one neighbor who's lived in the area for two decades added to the station that safety is a growing concern: "I think the neighborhood would feel safer if there were police patrols instead of just when something bad happens."Police asked anyone with information about Beckett's killing to call 713-308-3600, KTRK said.You can view a video report here about the fatal carjacking.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A large coalition of medical professionals is warning Florida voters about a purposely "misleading" abortion amendment that would overturn the state's six-week ban if passed in the upcoming November election.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed the Heartbeat Protection Act into law in 2023. The legislation prohibits abortions after six weeks.'Traffickers and abusers will be able to much more easily coerce girls into abortions.'A new ballot measure, Amendment 4, called the "Right to Abortion Initiative," seeks to rescind the state's restrictions by adding language to the Florida Constitution's Declaration of Rights that states, "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider."The amendment has received national attention, in part because Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump recently reiterated statements to the press that he believes DeSantis' six-week ban is "too short." His response sparked backlash from pro-life supporters, which prompted Trump, a Florida resident, to clarify how he plans to vote on the measure, Blaze News previously reported. Trump noted in a recent interview that he does believe that six weeks is "just too short a period," but he plans to vote against the amendment, citing Democrats' "radicalization" regarding supporting abortion up to nine months. If passed, the initiative could block any laws attempting to implement time restrictions.Florida doctors recently voiced concerns about the measure's "brief" and "vague" language.Dr. Richard Sandler, a pediatric gastroenterologist, is one of a few hundred medical professionals who joined Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4 to speak out in opposition to the amendment."To me, the most powerful [argument] is abortion until birth, because even the pro-choicers are typically not in favor of that," Sandler told the Florida Phoenix. "And certainly, the majority of voters are not in favor of that, that's clear. But they're not reading this amendment to realize this is what's being allowed. It's not explicitly what's in there. You have to read between the lines a little bit, which makes it harder to explain, but it's there."Sandler accused the measure of being "very deceptively worded" and filled with ambiguous language."It's so brief. It's so vague. So many terms undefined," he added. "And there is so much money and deception that is behind it."Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4's website explains that, if passed, the measure will allow abortions up to nine months and eliminate parental consent for children.The amendment states that it will still "require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion." However, critics noted that "notification" is not the same as "consent." Dr. Stephen Hannan, president of the Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, explained that the measure is "very misleading," the Diocese of Venice in Florida reported."Simply notifying a parent does not mean consent is required, just that someone was notified," Hannan said. "And the ballot summary provides no stringent criteria for notification as proof of identification as a parent."Dr. Karen Liebert, an OB/GYN and medical director at the Community Pregnancy Clinic in Sarasota, warned that the amendment could pose significant risks to children."Traffickers and abusers will be able to much more easily coerce girls into abortions, since the parental consent requirement is removed with the passage of this amendment. This is a real issue. Even worse, with no doctor involved, it's easier for an abuser to get someone, any loosely defined 'healthcare provider,' to say an abortion is needed," Liebert explained.Dr. Ana Garcia Iguaran, an OB/GYN and general practitioner, stated that the initiative would "provide unlimited, unrestricted access to abortion."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Bill Belichick, former New England Patriots head coach and one of the most decorated coaches in the history of the NFL, is talking taxes. According to legend, a Massachusetts law is discouraging star football players from signing with the New England Patriots.“It’s Taxachusetts,” he jested. “Even the minimum players are pretty close to a million dollars, and so once you hit that million-dollar threshold, then you pay more state tax in Massachusetts.” Rob Eno, BlazeTV Media Critic and a Massachusetts native, joins Jill Savage and the “Blaze News Tonight” panel to explain why athletes may be financially incentivized to sign with teams from states with more sensible tax codes and “why football is affected more than other professional sports.” - YouTube www.youtube.com “In November 2022, the citizens of Massachusetts actually voted to get rid of the Constitutional amendment that said they can't have a progressive income tax,” Eno explained, adding that instead, citizens opted to “have a one tax rate flat rate of 5%” as well as “a millionaire surtax of 4%.” He points to NBA forward Grant Williams as an example of why athletes are flocking away from Massachusetts. Williams, who played four seasons with the Boston Celtics, compared a Massachusetts’ salary of “$48 million with the millionaire’s tax” to the Dallas, Texas, equivalent of “$54 million.” “There's this jock tax. ... Even if you live in Dallas, you're going to pay California taxes or Boston taxes for the day games that you do there, but if you live in Massachusetts or if you work for the Boston Celtics or you work for the New England Patriots and you come to Dallas, you're still going to pay that Massachusetts tax rate because that's the state where you're earning the money,” Eno explains. The millionaire’s tax isn’t just hurting athletes though.“The CPAs in Boston ... that deal with high-net-worth individuals have said that they have at least one client that's looking to leave. ... The owner of the Boston Celtics is making plans to leave” due to an “estate tax in Massachusetts,” Eno reports. “Is this actually hurting the [Patriot’s] roster?” asks Jill. “I think it’s actually hurting the roster, and I think that all of the teams are seeing this,” says Eno. “Major League Baseball and the [NBA], there’s luxury taxes,” but “in football, you can’t do that.” “[Belichick] is actually making a political statement,” says Blaze Media’s editor in chief Matthew Peterson. To hear more of the conversation, watch the clip above.

What are the Monster Hunter Wilds monsters? If you want a rundown of all the new and returning monsters coming to the next Monster Hunter game next year, here's everything we know about what to expect. The Monster Hunter Wilds release date is next year, but that hasn't stopped us scouring every trailer, blog post, and detail looking for all the upcoming monsters. Thanks to the new Monster Hunter Wilds focus mode, it's going to be easier to wield weapons against the larger monsters, too, and new Monster Hunter Wilds characters can also help out in combat, especially agaisnt the new monster type, apex monsters. Continue reading All Monster Hunter Wilds monsters we’ve seen so far MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best games like Monster Hunter, Best open-world games, Best RPG games

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM gaming monitor is 20% off at Amazon right now, taking it to the lowest price we've seen. Giant curved monitors can be expensive, so if you're looking for the big-screen experience without the big-screen price, the Asus PG34WCDM could be a great investment, giving you an ultrawide aspect ratio that immerses you in the latest PC games. Like many of the best gaming monitors at the premium end, it has a fast 240Hz refresh rate for smoother gameplay. The resolution of 3440 x 1440 is less taxing on graphics cards than at higher resolutions, allowing for higher frame rates. If your desk can handle a 34-inch screen, the Asus PG34WCDM ultrawide could be the choice for you. Continue reading Asus’ ultrawide OLED gaming monitor just dropped to its lowest price MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Raikiri review, Best gaming motherboard

It’s taken nearly three years, but PC gamers are now finally ready to crown a new champion. According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey for August 2024, Windows 11 is now the default choice for gamers, knocking Windows 10 from the top spot for the first time since 2016. Windows remains the dominant platform on the whole with a 96.78% overall share of users running Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. Support for other platforms, including macOS and Linux, remains reasonably steady, but still with under 3.22% of the total market share. That includes users running the default Linux-based SteamOS on the Steam Deck. SteamOS might be great on a Steam Deck, but the best gaming PCs are still running Windows (for now, at least). Continue reading Windows 11 is finally more popular with PC gamers than Windows 10 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Microsoft DirectX Raytracing, Microsoft Hololens hands-on, Windows Game Mode preview

Concord has had a very tough start to its journey and now, a little under two weeks since the game launched, that journey is being cut short. Via the PlayStation blog, game director Ryan Ellis has outlined the plan to take Concord offline, remove it from sale, and offer full refunds to anyone who bought the title. Continue reading Concord going offline, being pulled from sale, players given refunds MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best multiplayer games, Best cross platform games, Best FPS games

Icons are some of the most desirable cards for Ultimate Team players, and the lineup of former legends has expanded massively over the years. Well, FC 25 is doing its bit to keep the roster growing with the addition of eight new Icons, including former Spurs and Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, USWNT legend Julie Foudy, and one of the most prolific strikers to ever grace the women’s game, Lotta Schelin. Continue reading FC 25 adds eight new Icons to its already massive lineup MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sports games, Best multiplayer games, Best PC games