The investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump by Thomas Matthew Crooks has shed some light on the suspect’s actions leading up to the shooting, but his motive remains unclear. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Crooks had a fascination with public figures, including Trump, President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Wray himself.
Pictures of these individuals were found on Crooks’ phone, along with research on the dates of the Democratic National Convention and Trump’s scheduled appearances. A particularly notable search was for “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy,” which Wray deemed “significant” in understanding Crooks’ state of mind.
Crooks’ interest in Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, began around July 6, when he registered to attend the event. He also conducted reconnaissance missions, visiting the rally venue six days before the event. On the day of the shooting, Crooks bought the ammunition he used from a gun store near his home.
Additionally, Crooks flew a drone over the rally venue hours before the event and had remote-controlled explosive devices in his car, which were left in the “off” position. The devices, described by Wray as “relatively crude,” were capable of remote detonation and had receivers attached.
Despite the evidence, investigators have found no indication of accomplices or co-conspirators, foreign or domestic. A senior congressional source revealed that Crooks had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, and his high school classmates described him as a loner who was frequently bullied.
“He was bullied so much,” said one former classmate, shedding some light on Crooks’ troubled past. However, the exact motive behind his actions remains a mystery, and the investigation is ongoing.
