 But there are no reports of anyone seeing Crooks with a rifle sufficient to know he was a direct threat until he retrieved it from the van. There are conflicting reports of whether Crooks used the ladder to purchase. He purchased earlier that morning at home Depot to assist him in getting to the roof, but it's likely there's no other way to get up there. CNN's John Miller revealed new details about the gunman. He said earlier in the day, Crooks went through secret service security,