Three days after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, investigators are still trying to piece together what happened and why. Witnesses at the rally reported seeing Thomas Matthew Crooks on the roof of a nearby building before he started shooting. It has been confirmed that snipers were stationed inside that building.
In the two days before the attack, Crooks, a 20-year-old from suburban Pittsburgh, was seen visiting various locations in his neighborhood. On Friday, he practiced shooting at a gun range where he was a member. The next day, he bought a five-foot ladder from Home Depot and 50 rounds of ammunition from a local gun store.
Crooks then drove to the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in his Hyundai Sonata, blending in with the crowd. He had an improvised explosive device in his car’s trunk, connected to a transmitter he carried. He used the ladder to climb a nearby building and began shooting at the former president.
Despite extensive searches of Crooks’ digital and personal life, investigators have not found a clear motive. His interests seemed to revolve around computer coding and gaming, with no evident political or ideological leanings.
The discovery of a remote control detonator on Crooks and explosives in his car suggests he might have planned to create a diversion during the shooting. The weapon used was an AR-style rifle legally purchased by his father, Matthew Crooks, who owns over 20 firearms. Investigators are still trying to figure out how Crooks assembled the explosives, as there is no evidence he researched bomb-making online.
Crooks and his father were members of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a gun club near their home where they often practiced shooting. The club features a rifle range longer than the distance from which Crooks fired at Trump.
After the incident, Crooks’ father declined to comment until he spoke with law enforcement. Initially, he expressed confusion and a desire for more information. The FBI accessed Crooks’ cell phone, hoping to uncover his motives, but they remain unsure. Crooks’ parents, who are cooperating with the investigation, described him as solitary and not politically active.
