The search history of Thomas Matthew Crooks, identified as the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a rally outside Pittsburgh last weekend, includes photos of Trump and President Biden, among other things.
Crooks, who was killed after opening fire at the campaign event, had searched dates of Trump’s appearances and the upcoming Democratic National Convention, FBI officials told members of Congress, The New York Times first reported.
The FBI disclosed what it had learned in private briefings to lawmakers and the head of the Secret Service, offering the best glimpse into what Crooks was thinking ahead of the shooting, which grazed the former president's ear.
The gunman — who was from Bethel Park, Pa. — had no criminal history or outward political beliefs, though he was a registered Republican.
Even though officials have gained access to his search history, no motive has been identified. They have not found any evidence of co-conspirators or connections to foreign activity.
The Times noted that the calls with FBI officials were tense, as members of both chambers of Congress demanded answers about the assassination attempt.
The officials said there was some indication that Crooks may have been struggling with depression. They noted that he searched “major depressive disorder,” a person on the calls and another familiar with what was said told the Times.
They added that the gunman was on good terms with his parents, but they were not closely involved with his day-to-day life. Crooks worked at a nursing home.
The Times also found that he received multiple packages over the last couple of months, several that were marked “hazardous material.” Officials said they found three explosive devices connected to him: One in his home and two in his car that was parked near Trump’s rally.
While the searches didn’t turn up any political motivation, FBI officials said it appears Crooks was interested in powerful people. He also had searched FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and a member of the British royal family.
Still, the lack of political or ideological information was “notable” since most people who commit these acts can be traced back, an official told the lawmakers.
CNN reported that an official briefed on the matter suggested that Crooks wanted to carry out a mass shooting and the location and timing of the Trump rally was the best opportunity.
The outlet also pointed out that investigators found the arrest photo of Ethan Crumbley, the student who killed four of his classmates in a Michigan shooting in 2021. He had also searched the guilty verdicts of Crumbley and his parents, which marked the first time parents of a shooter have been prosecuted.
On the day of the rally, Crooks had searched for details around Trump’s rally and a local gun store, where he purchased bullets that same day, per CNN.
Investigators believe he visited the rally location a week before it was held and that morning before it began. They think he then went home and retrieved his father’s AR-15 and went back to carry out the shooting.
The Secret Service continues to face scrutiny over the incident, including calls mounting for director Kimberly Cheatle to step down. Investigations into the shooting are still ongoing.
