Several new details have emerged in the investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, including the revelation that the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, conducted extensive attack planning before opening fire at a Pennsylvania campaign rally last month. The FBI has conducted nearly 1,000 interviews but still does not have a clear motive for the attack. Crooks searched online for events involving both Trump and President Joe Biden, as well as information about explosives, in the months leading up to the rally.
The FBI analysis of Crooks’ online search history revealed a sustained and detailed effort to plan an attack on some event, with a particular focus on the Pennsylvania campaign rally that he ultimately targeted. He did over 60 internet searches related to both Biden and Trump in the 30 days before the attack, including seeking out information on the Democratic and Republican national conventions. Additionally, one week before the shooting, Crooks searched for information about Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Crooks appeared to be highly intelligent and reclusive, with an interest in explosives, violence, and prominent public figures in the years leading up to the shooting. Despite his internet searches spanning both Democrats and Republicans, investigators have not been able to establish a clear political motive for the attack or why Trump specifically was targeted. The FBI has not found evidence that anyone else had prior knowledge of the shooting or that Crooks conspired with others. Explosive devices were found in his car and home, and his online searches dating back to 2019 indicate an interest in bomb-making materials.
During the rally, Crooks fired eight shots from an AR-style rifle, striking Trump in the ear with a bullet or fragment. One rallygoer was killed and two others were injured before Crooks was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. The FBI released images of the rifle Crooks used, his backpack, and the improvised explosive devices found in his car. Investigators continue to piece together the details of Crooks’ planning and potential motivations, but have not made conclusive statements about his motive at this time. The emerging portrait of Crooks suggests a calculated and methodical approach to planning the attack.
