Thomas Matthew Crooks

{{Donald Trump series|expanded=Campaigns}}

Thomas Matthew Crooks was born on September 20, 2003, and grew up in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh.{{Cite news |last=Vargas |first=Ramon Antonio |date=July 14, 2024 |title=FBI names suspect, 20, as 'subject involved' in Trump rally shooting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/14/trump-rally-shooting-fbi-names-20-year-old-from-bethel-park-as-subject-involved |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014421/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/14/trump-rally-shooting-fbi-names-20-year-old-from-bethel-park-as-subject-involved |url-status=live }} Both of Crooks's parents are licensed professional counselors.{{cite magazine |title=What We Know—and Don't Know—So Far About the Trump Rally Gunman |first=Chad |last=de Guzman |magazine=Time |date=July 15, 2024 |url=https://time.com/6998557/thomas-matthew-crooks-trump-rally-shooter-fbi-motive/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715142103/https://time.com/6998557/thomas-matthew-crooks-trump-rally-shooter-fbi-motive/ |url-status=live }} Recollections about him, including information about his life and personality, vary considerably.{{Cite news |last=Vargas |first=Ramon Antonio |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Former classmate describes Trump rally gunman as 'definitely conservative' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/15/trump-shooter-motive |access-date=July 16, 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |quote=Recollections about Crooks' political views and high school experience vary considerably. |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718053633/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/15/trump-shooter-motive |url-status=live }}

He attended Bethel Park High School.{{cite news |last1=Santucci |first1=Jeanine |title=1 week after Trump assassination attempt: Updates on his wound, the shooter |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/20/trump-assassination-attempt-updates-shooting-investigation/74483441007/ |date=July 20, 2024 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |work=USA Today }} He attempted to join the school's rifle club, participating in "preseason", but was such a bad shooter, he was considered "dangerous", being rejected from the team and asked not to come back.{{Cite news |last=Cole |first=Myke |date=2024-07-17 |title=Was Thomas Crooks a Good Shot? He Didn't Need to Be. |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/07/trump-shooter-gun-thomas-crooks-ar-15-expertise-military.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Trump shooter bought 50 rounds of ammunition on the day |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/07/15/trump-shooter-rejected-school-rifle-club-dangerous-shot/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}} He joined the National Technical Honor Society in 2021 while a junior in high school.{{Cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Emily |last2=Eder |first2=Steve |last3=Rashbaum |first3=William K. |last4=Harris |first4=Amy Julia |last5=Healy |first5=Jack |last6=Thrush |first6=Glenn |date=July 19, 2024 |title=From Honor Student to the Gunman Who Tried to Kill Donald Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/us/gunman-thomas-crooks-trump-shooting.html |access-date=July 20, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240720083107/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/us/gunman-thomas-crooks-trump-shooting.html |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |url-status=live}} In 2022, he graduated with high honors and won a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Awards and Recognition Program honors Bethel Park graduates |url=https://triblive.com/local/awards-and-recognition-program-honors-bethel-park-graduates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622160845/https://triblive.com/local/awards-and-recognition-program-honors-bethel-park-graduates/ |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2024 |website=Tribune-Review}}{{Cite web |last=Deto |first=Ryan |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Who is Thomas Crooks, the alleged gunman in the Trump shooting? |url=https://triblive.com/local/who-is-thomas-crooks-the-alleged-gunman-in-the-trump-shooting/ |website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714172029/https://triblive.com/local/who-is-thomas-crooks-the-alleged-gunman-in-the-trump-shooting/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author=Josefczyk |first1=Aaron |last2=Ward |first2=Jasper |last3=Singh |first3=Kanishka |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Here's what we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump rally shooter |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/heres-what-we-know-about-thomas-matthew-crooks-suspected-trump-rally-shooter-2024-07-14/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=Reuters}}

Classmates and school officials characterized him as being quiet; classmates said that he was often bullied for various reasons including his quiet demeanor, body odor, as well as for wearing camouflage hunting outfits and surgical masks to school.{{Cite news |last=Seldin |first=Jeff |date=July 14, 2024 |title=New information emerges on Trump shooting suspect |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/new-information-emerges-on-trump-shooting-suspect/7697793.html |work=Voice of America |access-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715010817/https://www.voanews.com/a/new-information-emerges-on-trump-shooting-suspect/7697793.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/world/new-video-shows-thomas-crooks-seemingly-getting-bullied-in-school-long-before-trump-assassination-bid-8968676.html |website=News18 |title='Easy Target': New Video Shows Trump Shooting Suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks Getting Bullied in School |date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717103652/https://www.news18.com/world/new-video-shows-thomas-crooks-seemingly-getting-bullied-in-school-long-before-trump-assassination-bid-8968676.html |url-status=live }}

He earned an associate degree in engineering science from the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, graduating two months before the shooting. He was employed as a dietary aide in a nursing home at the time of the shooting.{{cite web |last1=Robertson|first1=Campbell|last2=Healy|first2=Jack|last3=Bogel-Burroughs |first3=Nicholas |last4=Thrush |first4=Glenn |date=July 14, 2024|title=Here's What Is Known About the Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/trump-gunman-thomas-crooks.html|access-date=July 15, 2024|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=July 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714063441/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/trump-gunman-thomas-crooks.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Mejia|first1=Brittny|last2=Hernandez|first2=Angie Orellana|last3=Esquivel|first3=Paloma|title=20-year-old who almost killed Trump was a bright student, had a job and belonged to a gun club|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-07-14/thomas-matthew-crooks-trump-assassination-attempt|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 14, 2024|access-date=July 15, 2024|archive-date=July 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716143606/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-07-14/thomas-matthew-crooks-trump-assassination-attempt|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=McArthur |first=Tom |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about Donald Trump shooting suspect |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gw58wv4e9o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714133759/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gw58wv4e9o |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=BBC News }}{{Cite web |title=Suspected Trump shooter graduated from community college with 'high honors' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/donald-trump-rally-shooting-assassination-attempt/?id=111916828&entryId=111974110 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=ABC News |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716142717/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/donald-trump-rally-shooting-assassination-attempt/?id=111916828&entryId=111974110 |url-status=live }} According to the nursing home, which is less than a mile away from where he lived, he had passed a background check and "performed his job without concern".{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Pierre |last2=Rubin |first2=Olivia |last3=Charalambous |first3=Peter |last4=Barr |first4=Luke |last5=Date |first5=Jack |title='Loner' and 'nice': Complex portrait of gunman in Trump assassination attempt emerges |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-rally-shooting-suspect-fbi-names-pennsylvania-man/story?id=111921870 |website=ABC News |access-date=July 16, 2024 |date=July 16, 2024 |archive-date=July 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719073820/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-rally-shooting-suspect-fbi-names-pennsylvania-man/story?id=111921870 |url-status=live }} He had been accepted into both the University of Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania northwest of Pittsburgh and planned to attend the latter.{{Cite web |title=Gunman planned to attend local 4-year university this fall |date=July 16, 2024 |first=Anne |last=Flaherty |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/donald-trump-rally-shooting-assassination-attempt/?id=111916828&entryId=111985581 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716142718/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/donald-trump-rally-shooting-assassination-attempt/?id=111916828&entryId=111985581 |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=ABC News}}

He had a membership at a local shooting club for at least a year.

{{Main|Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania}}

Prior to the shooting, Crooks searched for images and public appearances of Trump, President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and Catherine, Princess of Wales,{{Cite news |last1=Fahrenthold |first1=David A. |last2=Thrush |first2=Glenn |last3=Robertson |first3=Campbell |last4=Goldman |first4=Adam |last5=Toler |first5=Aric |date=July 18, 2024 |title=A Blind Spot and a Lost Trail: How the Gunman Got So Close to Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/politics/secret-service-trump-shooting.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718011111/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/politics/secret-service-trump-shooting.html |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |access-date=July 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite magazine |last=Vanderhoof |first=Erin |date=July 18, 2024 |title=The Trump Shooter Searched a British Royal Prior to Assassination Attempt, Investigators Say |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/the-trump-shooter-searched-a-british-royal-prior-to-assassination-attempt-investigators-say |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719074902/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/the-trump-shooter-searched-a-british-royal-prior-to-assassination-attempt-investigators-say |archive-date=July 19, 2024 |access-date=July 19, 2024 |magazine=Vanity Fair}}{{Cite web |last1=Diaz |first1=Jaclyn |last2=Mistich |first2=Dave |last3=Lawrence |first3=Quil |date=July 19, 2024 |title=What we know about the Trump shooter |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/07/14/nx-s1-5039185/who-was-trump-rally-shooter-thomas-matthew-crooks |website=NPR |access-date=July 22, 2024 }} as well as for information regarding the Republican National Conventionhttps://web.archive.org/web/20241207204617/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-says-trump-gunman-spent-months-looking-target-before-settling-trump-2024-08-28/ and the Democratic National Convention.{{Cite news |last1=Thrush |first1=Glenn |last2=Healy |first2=Jack |last3=Broadwater |first3=Luke |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Gunman's Phone Had Details About Both Trump and Biden, F.B.I. Officials Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/trump-shooting-crooks-motive.html |access-date=July 20, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=}} He also searched the Internet for information on major depressive disorder and the Oxford High School shooting, with authorities finding an arrest photograph of Oxford shooter Ethan Crumbley on his phone.{{Cite web |first1=Zachary |last1=Cohen |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Holmes |last3=Lybrand |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Trump rally shooter researched Michigan mass shooter Ethan Crumbley and his family prior to attack |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/19/politics/trump-rally-shooter-searches/index.html |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=CNN}}{{Cite web |first1=Jeremy |last1=Herb |first2=John |last2=Miller |first3=Evan |last3=Perez |first4=Lauren |last4=Fox |first5=Annie |last5=Grayer |first6=Curt |last6=Devine |first7=Alayna |last7=Treene |first8=Morgan |last8=Rimmer |date=July 18, 2024 |title=19 lost minutes: Law enforcement failed to keep sight of Trump shooter, whose motive is still unclear to investigators|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/17/politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-trump-shooter/index.html |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=CNN}}

On July 6, the same day he registered for the rally, Crooks searched "how far was Oswald from Kennedy" in reference to former president John F. Kennedy and the gunman who assassinated him.{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Trump rally gunman looked online for information about Kennedy assassination, FBI director says |url=https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-f1ff0a636f3e2e1a28762c400852167e |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}} Crooks also searched for information on power plants and the attempted assassination of Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico. He used a number of aliases and encrypted communication accounts to buy firearm supplies and bomb-making material.{{Cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Stein |first2=Perry |date=2024-07-29 |title=Trump rally shooter sought info on attempted killing of foreign leader |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/29/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-updates/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} On July 12, 2024, Crooks went to a shooting range where he was a member to practice firing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/15/us/thomas-crooks-trump-rally-shooting-invs/index.html|title=A shooting range, a gun store, and a ladder purchase: Tracking the Trump rally gunman's movements leading up to his attack|date=July 15, 2024|website=CNN|first1=John|last1=Miller|first2=Casey|last2=Tolan|first3=Evan|last3=Perez|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-date=July 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719074906/https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/15/us/thomas-crooks-trump-rally-shooting-invs/index.html|url-status=live}}

He purchased 50 rounds of ammunition and a ladder before going to the rally on July 13.{{Cite web |title=New details emerge in Trump assassination attempt investigation |first1=Pierre |last1=Thomas |first2=Aaron |last2=Katersky |first3=Kevin |last3=Shalvey |first4=Luke |last4=Barr |date=July 16, 2024 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-searches-motive-trump-assassination-attempt-cautions-investigation/story?id=111945201 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=ABC News |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716142717/https://abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-searches-motive-trump-assassination-attempt-cautions-investigation/story?id=111945201 |url-status=live }} He requested the day off from work because he had "something important to do", telling his co-workers that he would return the next day.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/trump-shooter-requested-saturday-off-from-work-and-told-colleagues-he-d-be-back-at-work-sunday-officials-say-1.6967044 |title=Trump shooter requested Saturday off from work and told colleagues he'd be back at work Sunday, officials say|website=CTV News|date=July 17, 2024|access-date=July 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718012533/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/trump-shooter-requested-saturday-off-from-work-and-told-colleagues-he-d-be-back-at-work-sunday-officials-say-1.6967044 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 18, 2024}} Hours before the shooting, Crooks's parents had called the police to report him as missing and expressed concern about his wellbeing.{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Trump shooter's parents called police hours before assassination attempt |first1=Rebecca |last1=Rosenberg |first2=Jake |last2=Gibson |first3=David |last3=Spunt |url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/trump-shooters-parents-called-police-hours-before-assassination-attempt |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=FOX News |language=en-US}} On July 13, Crooks went to the Trump rally.{{cite news |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Thomas Matthew Crooks identified as Trump shooter |first1=Adam |last1=Schrader |first2=Darryl |last2=Coote |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/07/14/thomas-matthew-crooks-identified-trump-shooter/7311720966008 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=United Press International}} He climbed onto a building that was being used by police as a staging area.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tReC8aNS0A |title=New video shows Trump shooter climbing onto the roof at rally |date=July 15, 2024 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=July 16, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716024957/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tReC8aNS0A |url-status=live }} Text messages from a police sniper indicate that the police were already aware of him 90 minutes before the shooting.{{Cite web |last1=Katersky |first1=Aaron |last2=Pezenik |first2=Sasha |last3=Sarnoff |first3=Leah |date=July 28, 2024 |title=Local SWAT snipers saw Trump rally gunman nearly 2 hours before assassination attempt, text messages show |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/local-swat-snipers-trump-rally-gunman-2-hours/story?id=112356606 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bacon |first=John |title=Trump gunman spotted 90 minutes before shooting, texts show; SWAT team speaks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/29/trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-new-details/74586581007/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} Using an AR-15–style rifle which his father had bought legally in 2013 and that was legally transferred to him in 2023,{{cite web |last1=Yasmin |first1=Shahana |last2=Rohrlich |first2=Justin |title=What we know about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at Trump at his Pennsylvania rally |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-donald-trump-pennsylvania-shooting-b2579477.html |date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=The Independent |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714180815/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-donald-trump-pennsylvania-shooting-b2579477.html |url-status=live}} Thomas shot Trump and injured his upper right ear{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Biden condemns 'sick' attempt on Trump's life |first=Graeme |last=Baker |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98qnvn8dzeo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714184148/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98qnvn8dzeo |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=BBC News}} and also shot three adult male audience members;{{Cite web |first1=Tori B.|last1=Powell|first2=Shania|last2=Shelton|first3=Matt|last3=Meyer|first4=Isabelle|last4=D'Antonio|first5=Emma|last5=Tucker|first6=Jessie|last6=Yeung|first7=Dalia|last7=Faheid|first8=Amarachi|last8=Orie|first9=Michelle|last9=Shen|first10=Michael|last10=Williams|first11=Maureen|last11=Chowdhury |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Live updates: Trump survives assassination attempt|url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-biden-trump-07-13-24/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222828/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-biden-trump-07-13-24/index.html |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=CNN}} one of them, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, was killed.{{Cite news |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Update from Michael Gold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713223053/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} Crooks was then killed by a member of the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team.{{cite news |author=Tanyos |first=Faris |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump rally shooter killed by Secret Service sniper, officials say |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-rally-shooter-death-attendee-butler-county-da/ |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=CBS News |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714003233/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-rally-shooter-death-attendee-butler-county-da/ |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |last=Cheatle |first=Kimberly |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Statement From U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle |url=https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2024/07/statement-us-secret-service-director-kimberly-cheatle |url-status=live |publisher=United States Secret Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715190946/https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2024/07/statement-us-secret-service-director-kimberly-cheatle |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |quote=Secret Service personnel on the ground moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the safety of former president Donald Trump.}} The cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/08/01/thomas-matthew-crookes-trump-shooter-autopsy/74634862007/|title=Trump shooter autopsy reveals cause of death after attempted assassination|first=Nick|last=Penzenstadler|website=USA TODAY|date=August 1, 2024}} Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home, and a remote detonator was found on his body.{{Cite news |last=Copp |first=Tara |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Military has no records of shooter in apparent Trump assassination attempt serving |url=https://apnews.com/live/election-biden-trump-campaign-updates-07-13-2024#00000190-b1a5-dc4e-ab9d-bbeff33f0000 |work=The Associated Press |access-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222136/https://apnews.com/live/election-biden-trump-campaign-updates-07-13-2024#00000190-b1a5-dc4e-ab9d-bbeff33f0000 |url-status=live }} The FBI identified him as the shooter on July 14.

{{As of|2024|August}}, an investigation by the FBI was described to have at that time been underway. Crooks's motives remain unknown.{{Cite news |last1=Morris-Grant |first1=Brianna |last2=Burgess |first2=Annika |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Trump rally shooter's motives remain unknown as investigators find explosive materials in car |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-15/thomas-matthew-crooks-latest/104098014 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=ABC News |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715045120/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-15/thomas-matthew-crooks-latest/104098014 |url-status=live }}

{{Gallery

| title = FBI evidence from the assassination attempt

| align = center

| File:Explosive devices found in the trunk of Thomas Matthew Crooks.jpg

| Improvised explosive devices in the car trunk of Crooks found by the FBI

| File:Thomas Matthew Crooks rifle and backpack.jpg

|The rifle and backpack used by Crooks at the assassination attempt

| File:The rifle used by Thomas Matthew Crooks in the Trump assassination attempt.jpg

|The rifle used by Crooks during the assassination attempt, with visible damage to the stock of the firearm after being struck by police gunfire at Crooks

| File:Bicycle of Thomas Matthew Crooks near the Donald Trump rally.png

|A bicycle and two bags owned by Crooks, taken before the assassination attempt

}}

Authorities have said that Crooks' political views are unknown, and they have not determined whether his assassination attempt was politically motivated. Public records do not indicate his views.{{Cite web |first1=Casey |last1=Tolan |first2=Danny |last2=Freeman |first3=Majlie |last3=de Puy Kamp |first4=Curt |last4=Devine |first5=Isabelle |last5=Chapman |date=July 14, 2024 |title=What we know about the Trump rally gunman so far |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/us/trump-rally-gunman-thomas-crooks-invs/index.html |access-date=July 15, 2024 |website=CNN |quote=So far, investigators haven't found any evidence on social media or other writings by Crooks that might help identify his motive for the attempted assassination, law enforcement officials say... And a review of public records suggests he may have had divergent political leanings, with Crooks registering to vote as a Republican but making a small donation to a Democratic-leaning group. |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714195415/https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/us/trump-rally-gunman-thomas-crooks-invs/index.html |url-status=live }}

On January 20, 2021 when he was 17, he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a liberal voter turnout group, through the Democratic Party donation platform ActBlue.{{cite web |last1=Healy |first1=Jack |title=Here's What Is Known About the Suspected Gunman |date=July 14, 2024 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/trump-gunman-thomas-crooks.html |access-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714063441/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/trump-gunman-thomas-crooks.html |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |url-status=live|issn= |last2=Baker |first2=Mike |last3=Bogel-Burroughs |first3=Nicholas |last4=Benner |first4=Katie}}{{cite news |last1=Josefczyk |first1=Aaron |last2=Ward |first2=Jasper |last3=Singh |first3=Kanishka |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump's shooter was a registered Republican, had donated to a Democratic PAC |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-shooter-was-a-registered-republican-had-donated-to-a-democratic-pac/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714112120/https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-shooter-was-a-registered-republican-had-donated-to-a-democratic-pac/ |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=The Times of Israel}} His donation was made on the same day that President Biden was sworn into office. According to the Progressive Turnout Project, he made the donation in response to an email about "tuning into" the inauguration. He unsubscribed from the group's mailing list in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=Julia |date=2024-07-18 |title=Did the Trump gunman make a donation to Democrats? Here's what the records show. - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-shooter-thomas-crooks-donation-to-democrats-registered-republican/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

Crooks had been registered to vote since September 2021, when he turned 18. He registered as a Republican,{{Cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Ryan J. |last2=O'Donnell |first2=Kelly |last3=Winter |first3=Tom |last4=Dienst |first4=Jonathan |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump rally shooter identified as 20-year-old Pennsylvania man |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-rally-shooter-identified-rcna161757 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240714192415/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-rally-shooter-identified-rcna161757 |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=NBC News }}{{Cite news |date=July 14, 2024 |title=FBI Identifies Thomas Matthew Crooks as 'Subject Involved' in Trump Rally Shooting |agency=Reuters |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-07-14/fbi-identifies-thomas-matthew-crooks-as-subject-involved-in-trump-rally-shooting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714055632/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-07-14/fbi-identifies-thomas-matthew-crooks-as-subject-involved-in-trump-rally-shooting |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=US News & World Report |first1=Andrew |last1=Goudsward |first2=Jasper |last2=Ward }} and he voted only once (in the 2022 midterm elections).

After the shooting, the FBI uncovered a social media account "believed to be associated with the shooter" with about 700 comments from 2019 to 2020. A public statement from FBI deputy director Paul Abbate described Crooks's activity on social networking services as including comments that "appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes" and "espouse political violence".{{cite web |first1=Melissa |last1=Quinn |first2=Kaia |last2=Hubbard |title=Senators grill new Secret Service chief at Trump assassination attempt hearing |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-shooting-hearing-fbi-secret-service-assassination-attempt-senate/ |date=July 30, 2024 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=August 19, 2024 |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817180518/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-shooting-hearing-fbi-secret-service-assassination-attempt-senate/ |url-status=live }} Abbate noted that the findings were preliminary and that the comments were still in the process of being authenticated.{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Deirdre |last2=Lucas |first2=Ryan |last3=Anderson |first3=Linnea E. |date=2024-07-30 |title=Social media account with extremist comments could be tied to Trump gunman, FBI says |url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/nx-s1-5057323/social-media-account-with-extremist-comments-could-be-tied-to-trump-gunman-fbi-says |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=NCPR}}

{{commons category|Thomas Matthew Crooks}}{{Portal|Biography|Pennsylvania}}

• Ryan Wesley Routh
• List of United States presidential assassination attempts and plots

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{{Notes}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Donald Trump}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Crooks, Thomas Matthew}}

Category:2003 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:21st-century American criminals

Category:American criminal snipers

Category:American failed assassins

Category:American male criminals

Category:American people of Scottish descent

Category:Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania

Category:Criminals from Pennsylvania

Category:Deaths by firearm in Pennsylvania

Category:Failed assassins of presidents of the United States

Category:People associated with the 2024 United States presidential election

Category:People from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania

Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States