The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has concluded its investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania last month, confirming that the gunman, Thomas Crooks, acted alone. The FBI has found no evidence linking the attack to foreign entities, but the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
According to the FBI, Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, exhibited a range of ideologies. The investigation revealed that Crooks had searched more than 60 times for information about Trump, as well as his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden, with searches dating back to September 2023. This extensive online activity culminated in Crooks choosing to attend and target the Trump rally held in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
The FBI detailed that Crooks had mounted a “sustained, detailed effort” to plan an attack on a major event before finally settling on the Trump rally as his target. “We saw a sustained, detailed effort to plan an attack on some events, meaning he looked at any number of events or targets,” Kevin Rojek, the FBI’s top official in western Pennsylvania, told reporters. Rojek noted that Crooks became “hyper-focused” on the Trump rally when it was announced and saw it as a “target of opportunity.”
During the rally, Crooks fired multiple gunshots from an AR-15-style rifle, with one bullet grazing Donald Trump’s ear. Positioned on the roof of a manufacturing plant approximately 130 yards from the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, Crooks’s attack resulted in the death of one civilian and severe injuries to two others. Trump was shielded by Secret Service agents who quickly intervened to protect him.
Thomas Crooks was ultimately shot and killed by the US Secret Service Counter Sniper Team. Despite the extensive investigation, his exact motive for the attack remains unknown. The FBI’s findings reveal that while Crooks operated alone, the nature and intent behind his actions continue to be a subject of scrutiny.
