Thomas Matthew Crooks, the individual who attempted to assassinate President Trump, developed a significant obsession with firearms and long-distance shooting in the years preceding the July 2024 campaign rally attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to federal documents.
The documents, reviewed by The Post and provided to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley as part of his inquiry into the assassination attempt, detail Crooks’ growing interest in guns and target practice.
His father, Matthew Crooks, told federal investigators that conversations with his son often revolved around firearms. While Matthew noted his son's interest, he expressed a belief that Thomas harbored "ulterior motives" that became evident when he fired the shot.
The Panther Arms A-15 semi-automatic rifle used in the attack was given to Thomas by his father on the morning of July 13, 2024. Matthew Crooks stated he retrieved the rifle from a locked gun safe, the combination of which he frequently changed due to his son observing him enter it. He believed Thomas was heading to a shooting range at the time.
Thomas Crooks' interest in firearms began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, his father described him as a "terrible" shot, unable to hit a target. It reportedly took him approximately four to five years of consistent practice to become proficient enough to hit the paper targets.
Federal records also indicate Crooks’ interest in eventually owning his father's and grandfather's firearms. In one instance, Thomas inquired about background checks required to purchase his father's Glock pistol, which Matthew found unusual.
Matthew Crooks recounted an incident where he observed his son pacing erratically in the family's garage on surveillance camera footage, talking to himself while cleaning a gun. This occurred just days before the assassination attempt.
At the shooting range, Thomas Crooks reportedly improved his long-distance shooting capabilities after acquiring a prism sight, becoming knowledgeable about its calibration. His father noted that Thomas would frequently show him target groupings from over 100 yards away. When questioned about shooting at such distances, Thomas stated he was merely testing the capabilities of rudimentary sights.
Federal documents also revealed that Thomas Crooks purchased rifle modifications and accessories from Amazon using the pseudonym "Bob Dole."
Separately, Thomas Crooks attempted to manufacture a firearm at home, using a 3D printer to create a Glock-19-style handgun. His father, after firing a single round from the printed weapon and expressing concern about the frame's integrity, prohibited Thomas from taking it to the range.
President Trump sustained a graze wound to his ear during the July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, following Crooks' gunfire.