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The Express Gazette
Wednesday, September 16, 2026

FBI Documents Reveal Details of Trump Would-Be Assassin Thomas Crooks' Upbringing

New records shed light on the early life of the 20-year-old who died attempting to assassinate the former president.

US Politics 2 hours ago
FBI Documents Reveal Details of Trump Would-Be Assassin Thomas Crooks' Upbringing

Newly released FBI documents offer a glimpse into the upbringing of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

Crooks was born on September 20, 2003, reportedly without making a sound, a trait noted by his father, Matthew Crooks, in interviews with the FBI. Matthew Crooks stated he "never really had a father/son bond" with his son, describing him as stoic, rarely laughing, and difficult to read. These characteristics, according to the documents reviewed by the New York Post, were present throughout Crooks' life.

The assassination attempt occurred shortly after Crooks died in a confrontation with Secret Service agents. Reports indicate his bullet missed Trump's head by a narrow margin.

The documents were provided to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley as part of his investigation into the Butler assassination attempt.


Sources