The gunman who attempted to kill Donald Trump had researched a member of the Royal Family as he planned targets for assassination,the FBI has revealed. 

Thomas Crooks was killed by US Secret Service snipers seconds after he opened fire on the former President during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. 

Armed with a rifle,the 20-year-old clipped Mr Trump,78,on the ear and killed another male spectator. 

FBI investigators told members of Congress that Crooks had gone online to 'scope out' a number of potential high-profile assassination targets - which included an unnamed member of the Royal Family. 

The revelation came after federal agents downloaded the contents of two of Crooks' mobile phones.

'That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point,' the Secret Service chief claimed.

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Former FBI Assistant Director reveals where the Secret Service made a critical mistake before the Trump shooting... and why he thinks the director is blaming the 'sloped' roof

'And so,you know,there's a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof.

'And so,the decision was made to secure the building,from inside,' she added.

Thanks to Cheatle's decision,Crooks managed to evade cops and Secret Service three times,even though he had been deemed 'suspicious' and could have been on the roof for up to 30 minutes before he pulled the trigger.

Witnesses also begged law enforcement to act when they saw him clamber onto the roof with his AR-style rifle,but the lapse in security meant he was able to carry out his bid to take the 45th president's life.

Four sources close to President Biden's family,including people who interacted with Cheatle during the Obama-Biden administration,told the New York Post she was well liked by the future first lady and her most senior aides,including top adviser Anthony Bernal.

PennsylvaniaThomas Matthew CrooksFBI