Accused had 'mixture of ideologies': FBI releases new photos, details of Trump shooting probe

The FBI on Wednesday released new photos, including images of the gun and explosives found in the shooter’s car, from its investigation into attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump during a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

According to a CNN report, the release of these photos coincides with new details provided by FBI officials about 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks’ internet searches leading up to the shooting.

Investigators are examining these searches to better understand Crooks’ mindset at the time, added the report.

The photos reveal the firearm’s collapsible stock, which investigators believe may have been used to conceal the rifle at the rally site.

According to CBS News, the FBI said that the investigation into the shooting on July 13 remains ongoing and the bureau has still not identified a motive or evidence that Crooks worked with any others.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, told reporters during a briefing that investigators believe Crooks had engaged in detailed attack planning.

Rojek said Crooks became “hyper-focused” on Trump’s campaign rally in Butler once it was announced.

“When this event was announced, the Trump rally was announced, early in July, he became hyper-focused on that specific event and looked at it as a target of opportunity,” CBS News quoted Rojek as saying, adding, the FBI discovered a “mixture of ideologies” linked to Crooks.

After firing eight shots, Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper. Trump was injured by a bullet that struck his ear, two rally attendees were wounded, and one person was killed in the shooting.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Rojek said in late September 2023, an online account tied to Crooks was used to search for Trump campaign events scheduled in Pennsylvania. From April 2024 through July 12, the gunman searched for information on campaign events for both Trump and President Biden. Once the Trump rally was announced in Butler, he searched for specifics about that venue, including “Butler farm show podium,” CBS News reported.

About a month before the attack, the shooter searched for topics related to Trump and  Biden, including the dates for the Democratic and Republican conventions.

As early as 2019, accounts tied to Crooks searched for explosive devices including “detonating cord,” “how to make a bomb from fertilizer” and “how do remote detonators work,” Rojek said.

FBI officials have determined that some antisemitic comments online are tied to an account associated with Crooks and they are working to determine if he himself posted that language, according to Rojek.

With inputs from agencies