Newly released FBI interviews with the father of Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump in July 2024, describe the gunman as a remarkably quiet and distant individual with a significant focus on firearms. Crooks fired eight rounds from an AR-15 style rifle at a rally, wounding Trump and killing a supporter, Corey Comperatore.
The interviews, provided by Matthew Crooks to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, shed light on his son's upbringing. Matthew described Thomas as quiet from birth, rarely laughing and difficult to understand. He noted they "never really had a father/son bond," and that Thomas would sometimes act out due to boredom. His father recalled an incident where Thomas, as a child, became frustrated and cried only after being physically pushed by his father.
During elementary school, Thomas reportedly became more animated but acted out of boredom, once wrecking a school desk and associating with a group his father deemed "bad." His quiet nature intensified through high school, where he began talking to himself and struggled to communicate with teachers. Matthew stated that his son "repeatedly denied" accusations of being gay, despite never showing interest in girls.
Thomas exhibited pressure regarding college applications, eventually scoring a 1500 on the SATs without apparent dedicated study. His future plans remained vague, though he once expressed an idea of joining the military to work in nuclear submarines because he thought it "would be cool." His father expressed regret over his work schedule, believing more involvement could have helped.
An interest in firearms appeared to become a defining aspect of Thomas's life. He joined a gun club during the pandemic and, after four to five years of practice, became a proficient shooter, extending his range and experimenting with rudimentary sights. He began purchasing large quantities of rifle parts and accessories online, using the pseudonym "Bob Dole," the late former Senator and presidential candidate. He also developed paranoia about his checking account being hacked and taught his father methods to hide their digital identities.
Thomas also engaged with 3D printing, even creating a Glock 19 frame that he later discarded after firing a single round, fearing the frame might explode. His father noted that their conversations frequently involved guns, and he found it "odd" when Thomas inquired about background checks for purchasing his father's Glock or obtaining his grandfather's firearms.
Another interviewee, whose name was redacted, described Thomas as a "big history buff" with a "nonchalant" interest in politics. Thomas had spoken about Trump and Joe Biden, and frequently mentioned Marco Rubio. Matthew stated Thomas identified as a Republican, disliked the "welfare state" and "woke" ideology, but did not fully espouse Republican principles. His father suggested Thomas's registered Republican status stemmed from his own. The family often made fun of politicians from both parties. Thomas reportedly did not believe the 2020 election was rigged and was "shocked" by the events of January 6, 2021.
Matthew expressed surprise when he learned his son had made a small donation to the Democratic group Progressive Turnout Project in 2021. Thomas's interests also included idolizing Iron Man, enjoying war films like "Saving Private Ryan" and "Full Metal Jacket," and appreciating rap and country music.
Investigators found 22 unfired rounds, extra magazines, a ballistic vest, and an undetonated explosive device in Crooks' vehicle. The device was in the off position and not set up for remote detonation. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper during the assassination attempt.
Questions surrounding Crooks's digital footprint and potential connections have persisted. The FBI's initial statements about his lack of an online presence were challenged following a documentary released by Tucker Carlson, which presented evidence of a radical online presence and the existence of a figure known as "Willy Tepes." The FBI later stated Crooks had an extensive digital footprint and that "Willy Tepes" had mentioned Crooks in YouTube comments. However, a discovered YouTube comment from August 5, 2020, showed Crooks responding to "Willy Tepes," discussing "terrorism style attacks" and assassination attempts on politicians.
An investigative group called Citizens Commission also analyzed "Willy Tepes's" online activity, reporting that thousands of messages encouraged political violence. The widow of Corey Comperatore, Helen Comperatore, has publicly stated her disbelief in the official account of the shooting, suggesting higher federal involvement.
