1500 SAT score to gun obsession: FBI docs reveal chilling story of Trump’s 'emotionless' Butler attacker
WASHINGTON,DC: Thomas Matthew Crooks left behind few clear answers about why he opened fire at President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.
Newly disclosed FBI interview records, accessed by the New York Post for a report published Monday, September 14, offer a detailed account of the young man’s private world, from his academic ambitions and emotional detachment to his growing fixation on firearms, surveillance technology, and privacy tools.
The documents, provided to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley as part of his inquiry into the assassination attempt, include interviews with Crooks’s father, Matthew.
They portray a deeply private young man whose family struggled to understand his interests and behavior, even as his weapons-related activities grew increasingly sophisticated.
Father details Crooks' early life
Crooks was born on September 20, 2003. His father told investigators that he did not cry when he was born and remained quiet throughout his childhood.
Matthew said he never developed a strong father-son bond with Thomas and found his son difficult to read.
He rarely displayed intense emotions, hardly laughed and became increasingly reserved during high school.
The change became more noticeable between Crooks’ freshman and sophomore years, when he began experiencing difficulties speaking with teachers.
His father also recalled frequently seeing him talk to himself, a habit that became more pronounced as he grew older.
Academically, however, Crooks showed considerable ability. He reportedly scored 1,400 on his first SAT attempt without studying and later raised his score to 1,500.
His father said Thomas placed significant pressure on himself because he feared he would not be accepted into college.
Crooks mentioned several possible career paths, including working on nuclear submarines in the military. But his father viewed those ideas as passing interests rather than firm plans.
He also appeared socially isolated. Matthew said his son never seemed to have a romantic interest.
The father regretted that work commitments had prevented him from driving Thomas to more extracurricular activities, which he believed might have helped him develop a stronger social life.
Crooks' sudden interest in firearms
Crooks’ interest in firearms developed during his teenage years.
He briefly showed an interest in hunting but did not appear comfortable with the idea of killing an animal.
His conversations with his father increasingly revolved around guns. At one point, he asked whether he would need to undergo a background check to purchase his father’s weapons.
Crooks began visiting a gun club around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, he was a poor shooter. His father told investigators that Thomas was so inaccurate he could not hit the paper target. It reportedly took four or five years of practice before he became proficient.
His online purchases also raised questions. Matthew recalled receiving large numbers of Amazon packages containing firearm parts, tools and items intended to increase his rifle’s capacity.
Crooks reportedly used the name 'Bob Dole' as a delivery alias and believed that using a pseudonym would protect purchases and prevent the account from being compromised.
No clear political affiliation
The FBI interviews did not establish a clear political motive for the attack.
A person whose identity was redacted described Crooks as a history enthusiast who was interested in politics but generally discussed it in a detached way.
Matthew said his son called himself a Republican and opposed the welfare state and 'woke' ideology, although he did not strongly identify with conventional Republican positions.
The two sometimes discussed or mocked politicians from both parties.
Crooks reportedly did not believe the 2020 presidential election had been stolen and was shocked by the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
His father also told investigators that Thomas had donated $15 in 2021 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a Democratic organizing group.
Following the release of the information, President Donald Trump accused Democrats of plotting to kill him to remove him from the presidential race.
Anonymous donor raises suspicion
Additionally, an unidentified person covered the cremation costs of Thomas Matthew Crooks shortly after the July 2024 Butler rally shooting, federal records accessed by New York Post reveal.
The detail appears in documents sent to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley during his investigation into the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
A note attached to a summary of Crooks’ father Matthew’s FBI interview states that an “anonymous donor” paid for the cremation.
The records indicate the information came through the family’s attorney.
They also note that Matthew was retired and his wife was on leave, while Matthew separately told investigators he was unemployed when the shooting occurred, raising questions about the family’s financial circumstances.
