A year has passed since the shocking attempt on Donald Trump's life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the picture surrounding the would-be assassin, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, remains incomplete.
Despite multiple federal investigations, the resignation of a Secret Service director, and nationwide scrutiny, crucial questions about Crooks' motives, mental state, and possible accomplices are still unanswered.
The Shooting That Changed Everything
On July 13, 2024, Crooks opened fire from a rooftop near Trump’s rally stage, grazing the former president’s ear, killing firefighter and father Corey Comperatore, and injuring two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
In the moments following the attack, Trump raised a bloodied fist and shouted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" — an image that quickly became symbolic of his defiance and was credited with galvanizing voter support ahead of his successful November presidential election.
But while the public rallied behind Trump, the case around his would-be killer stalled. The FBI has provided no public update since August 2024. Investigations by Congress and independent bodies have focused more on procedural failures than on the shooter himself.
Why Did Crooks Do It?
Perhaps the most haunting question remains unanswered: Why did Thomas Matthew Crooks try to assassinate Donald Trump?
Crooks left no manifesto, no clear social media trail, and no public explanation for his actions. According to the FBI, they are still working to "determine the sequence of events and the shooter's movements prior to the shooting, collecting and reviewing evidence, conducting interviews, and following up on all leads."
In a May 2025 interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, FBI Director Kash Patel offered little hope for a dramatic reveal: “I don’t know that there’s more to know, but you’re going to know everything we know.”
Investigators found conflicting signs about Crooks' political leanings. Though he registered as a Republican at 18, he also donated $15 to a Democratic PAC. A week before the shooting, Crooks registered for Trump’s rally and searched online: “How far was Oswald from Kennedy?”
Crooks had a clean record and was an engineering student with a high SAT score, but his digital footprint suggested he was preoccupied with political violence. His devices showed searches for Donald Trump, Joe Biden, former FBI Director Christopher Wray, and past mass shootings — including a photo of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, per the Daily Mail.
Despite this, no clear ideological motive has emerged.
Did He Act Alone?
Federal authorities have stated the evidence suggests Crooks acted alone — but that hasn’t stopped speculation.
“Our president was nearly assassinated. We still don't know what happened to the shooter's burner phones. Who was he corresponding with? Did he have a handler?” posted Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, head of a House task force on government secrecy.
Doug Hagmann, a private investigator speaking to the New York Post, claimed geofencing analysis of devices tied to Crooks indicated he may have been part of a larger network. “We don't think he acted alone,” he said. “This took a lot of coordination... Crooks was handled by more than one individual.”
As of today, no public evidence has emerged confirming accomplices.
Was He Planning More Than a Shooting... Or A Bigger Attack?
The materials found after the attack suggest the Butler shooting might not have been Crooks’ only objective.
Authorities discovered bomb-making equipment in his home and car, including two improvised explosive devices and a homemade bomb in his bedroom. He had also tried to purchase over two gallons of nitromethane, a powerful explosive chemical, CBS News reported earlier this year.
Investigators believe the Butler rally may have been viewed by Crooks as a “target of opportunity" - but did Crooks have a larger attack in mind?
What Was His Mental State?
Mental health concerns have surrounded the case from the beginning.
Crooks’ parents, both licensed professional counselors, reportedly called authorities on the day of the shooting, concerned for their son’s whereabouts and wellbeing. Crooks had searched for terms like “major depressive disorder” and “depression crisis” in the lead-up to the attack.
His father told the New York Times that his son had been displaying erratic behavior—talking to himself, waving his arms, and dancing late at night. Mental illness runs in the family, the father added.
The Times writes that Crooks went through a transformation in the latter years of his life, "from a meek engineering student critical of political polarization to a focused killer who tried to build bombs".
Despite these signs, no formal mental health diagnosis has been released.
What Happened to His Phones?
The FBI recovered two phones from Crooks at the time of the shooting. While it has been reported that the devices contained politically charged searches and photos related to past shootings, officials have not publicly disclosed the full contents.
Lawmakers - such as Rep. Luna - have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency.
Why Was He Cremated So Quickly?
One of the most contentious elements in the case has been the handling of Crooks’ remains. Rep. Clay Higgins, a former sheriff and member of the House investigative task force, expressed shock that Crooks was cremated just 10 days after the shooting.
According to Higgins, even the county coroner and local law enforcement were unaware of the cremation until weeks later. “On J23, Crooks was gone,” he wrote in an independent report. He criticized the FBI’s handling of the autopsy and questioned why Crooks wasn’t tested for prescription drugs, especially given signs of a potential psychotic episode, later branding the move an "obstruction to any following investigative effort".
The FBI maintains that the cremation was conducted properly and in coordination with local authorities. "Nothing was rushed and everything was documented as part of the investigation," the FBI said in a statement, per Newsweek.
Why Are the Agencies So Quiet?
Despite the public’s hunger for answers, the FBI has remained largely silent. Its last press release on the case was August 28, 2024.
Director Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have cited ongoing federal prosecutions as the reason for withholding information. “We can't get ahead of the federal court case,” Patel said.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, dismissed expectations for a revelatory conclusion: “If there was a big explosive there, right? Given my history… give me one logical, sensible reason we would not have [disclosed it]... That there you're looking for is not there.”
Despite a year of investigations, security reviews, and political scrutiny, the American public still has no definitive explanation for why Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump.
Theories abound. Evidence lingers. But as the first anniversary passes, what remains most striking is how little we still know about Thomas Matthew Crooks.