- Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He killed one rally-goer and seriously injured two others, as well as Trump.
- Crooks’ digital activity shows a shift from far-right rhetoric to mocking Trump and discussing political violence.
- FBI Director Kash Patel has commented on what we know about the case at this point.
The FBI has released new information on Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old who fired shots at President Donald Trump during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer.
On July 13, 2024, Crooks fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style assault rifle from a roof overlooking the rally. The shots were directed at then-presidential candidate Trump. He suffered a wound to his ear, while volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed and two other rally-goers were seriously injured. Crooks was then shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
New York Post reports Crooks may have been involved in furry culture
Crooks allegedly had two accounts on the site DeviantArt, which is one of the largest furry art hubs on the internet.
The Post found the accounts were linked to Crooks’ primary email, and his usernames were “epicmicrowave” and “theepicmicrowave.” His account also used the pronouns, “they/them.”
Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, also had ties to furry culture. In engravings etched onto bullet casings obtained by the FBI, Robinson allegedly wrote messages related to the subculture.
Crooks’ body cremated shortly after assassination attempt
Crooks was cremated on July 23, 2024 — ten days after the assassination attempt.
Carlson noted that his cremation occurred on the same day the House Homeland Security and Oversight committees announced they were opening an investigation into the shooting.
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said in August, 2024, that “nobody knew (about the cremation) until Monday, August 5, including the County Coroner, law enforcement, Sheriff, etc.”
“Yes, Butler County Coroner technically had legal authority over the body, but I spoke with the Coroner, and he would have never released Crooks’ body to the family for cremation or burial without specific permission from the FBI,” he wrote to task force chairperson Mike Kelly, R-Pa.
Higgins added to Fox News, Crooks’ cremation seriously dampened progress in investigations.
“We will actually never know. Yes, we’ll get the reports and pictures, etc., but I will not ever be able to say with certainty that those reports and pictures are accurate according to my own examination of the body,” he said.
Kash Patel responds
FBI Director Kash Patel recently posted about the case on X, detailing the bureau’s work. He said more than 480 FBI employees have worked on the case, that they have conducted more than 1,000 interviews, addressed 2,000 public tips, seized 13 devices and analyzed data associated with 25 social media accounts.
“Crooks had limited online and in person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone,” Patel concluded.