Newly released FBI files detail Thomas Crooks’ unusual nighttime behavior, firearm training and warning signs before the Trump rally shooting.
Newly released FBI records are shedding additional light on the behavior of Thomas Matthew Crooks in the weeks and months before he attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The files, turned over to the Senate, include accounts from people who knew Crooks and described increasingly unusual behavior before the July 13, 2024, shooting. One person told investigators that Crooks would sometimes stay awake throughout the night, pace around and appear to talk or whisper to himself.
The revelations add new details to the FBI’s investigation into Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper after firing at the rally.
FBI files detail unusual nighttime routine
According to an FBI memo cited by Fox News, an individual close to Crooks described a pattern of nighttime activity that occurred several times a week.
The person said Crooks could be heard dancing and whispering at night and would sometimes pace through the house. When questioned about the pacing, Crooks reportedly said he was bored and trying to entertain himself.
Another account described Crooks as increasingly agitated as he grew older and said he frequently talked to himself. The person also recalled occasions when Crooks appeared to have seemingly boundless energy and stayed awake through the night.
The records do not establish that these behaviors caused or directly predicted the shooting. They instead provide investigators with additional observations about Crooks’ conduct before the attack.
Former FBI agent points to warning signs
Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News that the newly released material contained what he considered significant warning signs.
Gilliam characterized the records as evidence that Crooks appeared to be entering an increasingly unstable period before the shooting. His assessment is an interpretation of the reported behavior, rather than a formal medical diagnosis of Crooks.
The FBI records themselves document observations from people around Crooks rather than establishing a definitive explanation for his state of mind or actions.
Crooks’ growing interest in firearms
The documents also provide more information about Crooks’ involvement with firearms in the months before the assassination attempt.
Records show he enrolled in multiple courses at Keystone Shooting Center in Pennsylvania, including basic carbine and handgun courses. He also took an intermediate handgun course during the spring and summer of 2024.
Investigators also documented purchases of ammunition and other firearm-related items.
Separate reporting based on newly reviewed records said Crooks used the name “Bob Dole” when receiving some packages and purchased rifle-related parts and tools online. Reuters reported that investigators still had not established a motive for the attack.
Motive remains unresolved
Despite the growing amount of information about Crooks’ activities, investigators have not publicly established a definitive motive for the shooting.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI had uncovered new information about Crooks’ background and history but did not provide a detailed explanation of what prompted the additional review.
FBI Director Kash Patel testified that investigators found no evidence Crooks was communicating with anyone beyond his parents, according to Fox News’ report. Reuters likewise reported that investigations concluded Crooks acted alone and found no evidence connecting Democrats to the attack.
What happened at the Butler rally
Crooks opened fire from a rooftop during Trump’s July 2024 campaign rally. Trump was grazed by a bullet, while rally attendee Corey Comperatore was killed and two other people were wounded.
Crooks was subsequently killed by a Secret Service sniper. The attack prompted investigations into both the shooter’s background and security failures surrounding the rally.
The newly released FBI records offer more detail about Crooks’ behavior before the shooting, but they do not by themselves provide a definitive explanation for why he carried out the attack.
As additional records become available, investigators and lawmakers are expected to continue examining Crooks’ preparations, online activity, firearm training and personal behavior in an effort to better understand how the attack unfolded.
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