Trump shooter used a DRONE to scope out rally grounds just HOURS before ex-president's speech - as stunning details are revealed in another huge security failure

It has been revealed that the gunman who attempted to assassinate Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last week flew a drone over the site just hours before the shooting.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was able to navigate the drone over the western Pennsylvania fairgrounds and obtain aerial footage on July 13 - the same day as Trump's Butler rally. 

Crooks allegedly flew the drone on a programmed flight path earlier in the day, and officials say that the predetermined path suggests Crooks had flown the small aircraft more than once in order to scope out the site of the rally.

The shocking revelation was made on Friday - almost a week after the ill-fated campaign event - by law-enforcement officials, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It was yet another example of how the Secret Service failed to do an adequate job of securing the area, leaving the MAGA crowd and the former president exposed to the subsequent dangerous situation. 

It has been revealed that the gunman who attempted to assassinate Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last week flew drones over the site just hours before the shooting

Trump sustained a wound on his ear from a gunshot graze and one spectator was killed when at least six rounds of ammunition were fired by the assassin.

Crooks was killed following the shooting after a Secret Service sniper team returned fire. 

The Secret Service have come under intense scrutiny since they botched the job - with many calling for the resignation of its director, Kimberly Cheatle. 

The incident is being described as an enormous security failure with an increasing list of things that went wrong leading up to and during the assassination attempt.  

Terrifying video from TMZ captured the moment Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, lay down on the roof of a nearby building, in full view of horrified Trump supporters, and fired towards the stage.

He had previously been spotted and then watched by law enforcement at the Trump rally site because they sensed something wasn't right, according to reports. But then they lost sight of him before the carnage unfolded.

Witnesses say they warned cops about a man armed with an AR-style rifle climbing on top of a building, but he was still able to open fire.

In a damning statement on Saturday night, FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek said it was 'surprising' Crooks managed to fire off so many shots.

Thomas Matthew Crooks (pictured), 20, was able to fly a drone and get aerial footage of the western Pennsylvania fairgrounds on July 13 - the same day as Trump's Butler rally

Trump's sustained a wound on his ear from where the gunshot grazed him and one spectator was killed when at least six rounds of ammunition were fired by the assassin.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., became the first lawmaker to say that Cheatle 'needs to go.' 

Speaking to ABC News on Tuesday, Cheatle claimed that agents were not positioned on top of the sloped building, deeming it too dangerous - despite images from the scene showing Secret Service snipers set up on a sloped roof behind where Trump was delivering his speech. 

President Joe Biden, addressing Americans from the White House Sunday, promised an 'independent review' into what happened at the rally.

'I'm directing an independent review on national security [at] yesterday's rally to assess exactly what happened, and we'll share the results of that independent review with the American people as well,' Biden stated.

Former Secret Service agent Joseph LaSorsa said there will be an 'intensive review' and 'massive realignment' in the agency. 'This cannot happen' he said.

He told DailyMail.com that it was very lucky Trump turned his head at the last second so the bullet only hit his ear.

A shocking animation has shown just how close Trump came to death has the bullet whizzed past his brain and impacted his ear. 

Days later, Cheatle was shielded by her own officers after furious US senators pursued her down the corridors of the RNC, demanding she explain how a gunman was able to get a clear shot at Donald Trump.

She was in the Milwaukee convention hall to oversee security arrangements on Wednesday evening -  just hours after making a 'cover-your-a** call' to senators about the shooting in Pennsylvania on Saturday night.

Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee led the chase, complaining that they had not had a chance to put their questions to Cheatle during the call. 

A frustrated Barrasso then issued an ultimatum to the security chief.

'You put him within less than an inch of his life,' Barrasso yelled at Cheatle.  'So resignation or full explanation.'