Despite Extensive Investigation, Thomas Crooks' Motive in Trump Rally Shooting Remains Unclear One Year On

Butler, Pennsylvania – Over a year after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally, the full motivations behind 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks' actions on July 13, 2024, remain largely unknown, despite extensive investigations. Crooks, who wounded Mr. Trump and killed one attendee before being fatally shot by Secret Service, has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny by federal authorities seeking to piece together his perplexing trajectory.

On that day, Crooks opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle from a rooftop near the rally stage, striking Mr. Trump's ear and killing 50-year-old volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore, while critically injuring two others. The swift response from a Secret Service counter-sniper team ended the attack, with Crooks being killed at the scene. This incident exposed significant security vulnerabilities, leading to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and calls for fundamental reforms within the agency.

Hailing from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Crooks was a high-achieving engineering student at the Community College of Allegheny County, graduating with high honors and scoring 1530 on his SATs. Described by professors as a "star student" with a promising future, he was reportedly quiet and kept to himself, often lauded for his dedication and intelligence. However, investigations have since revealed a hidden "double life" that contradicted his academic persona.

In the months leading up to the attack, Crooks meticulously planned his actions, purchasing a rifle from his father and regularly visiting a local shooting range. Evidence uncovered by the FBI indicated he researched explosive materials, including nitromethane, and homemade bombs were later found in his car and bedroom. He also used encrypted communications and visited the rally site days before the event, suggesting a calculated and deliberate plot.

Despite the detailed insights into his preparations, Crooks left no manifesto or clear explanation for his motive, confounding investigators. While he registered as a Republican and had previously donated to a Democratic-backing committee, his political leanings remain ambiguous. Online searches for "how far was Oswald from Kennedy?" and symptoms of depressive disorder hint at a complex internal state, but a definitive motive has yet to be established by the FBI.

Crooks' parents reported noticing increasingly erratic behavior in the year prior to the shooting, including dancing and talking to himself, and his father expressed concerns about his mental health. The family has since retreated from public life, adding to the mystery surrounding Crooks. One year on, questions persist regarding potential accomplices, whether he planned a larger attack, and the FBI's handling of certain aspects of the investigation, including the swift cremation of his body.