FBI files detail Crooks' final 100-yard practice before Butler shooting

Key points

• FBI documents show Crooks practiced a 100-yard shot at Clairton Sportsmen’s Club on July 12, 2024, the day before the Butler rally.
• Crooks, a 20-year-old engineering student, spent five years improving his aim after initially being a 'terrible shot' according to his father.
• The 600-page file includes interviews with relatives, teachers, and coworkers, describing Crooks as quiet, withdrawn, and obsessed with long-range shooting.
• Crooks used the pseudonym 'Bob Dole' to order gun parts and privacy software, believing it would protect him from hacking.
• FBI Director Kash Patel testified that the agency found no evidence Crooks communicated with anyone other than his parents.
• President Trump accused former FBI Director Christopher Wray of mishandling the investigation and claimed the attack was a 'Democratic plot,' though he offered no evidence.

Background

This story follows the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Thomas Matthew Crooks fired an AR-15-style rifle at Donald Trump, striking him in the ear. One bystander was killed, and two others were injured before Secret Service agents killed Crooks. Recent archive coverage noted that the FBI concluded in 2025 that Crooks acted alone, but new documents released to the Senate Judiciary Committee have sparked renewed debate about the investigation's thoroughness and the shooter's motivations.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News and The New York Post emphasize the granular details of Crooks' behavior, such as his final practice session and his use of the 'Bob Dole' alias, highlighting his obsessive nature. ABC News focuses on the political fallout, noting President Trump's unsubstantiated claims of a 'Democratic plot' and his criticism of former FBI Director Christopher Wray. While the Post and NBC detail Crooks' solitary actions and lack of social connections, ABC highlights FBI Director Kash Patel's testimony that no external connections were found, contrasting with Trump's narrative of a broader conspiracy. All sources agree that Crooks' motive remains unclear, with his father stating he could not identify a reason for the attack.

Why it matters

The release of these 600-page FBI documents provides the first detailed public look into the psychology and preparation of the would-be assassin, challenging narratives of a coordinated conspiracy. It underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding the 2024 election and the FBI's role in national security investigations, while also raising questions about the thoroughness of the initial investigation and the handling of classified information by the Department of Justice.

What to watch

The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Chuck Grassley, is expected to continue its review of the newly unclassified documents. The Department of Justice may face further scrutiny regarding the release of these files and the handling of the original investigation. President Trump may continue to press for accountability against former officials, though no formal charges or investigations have been announced against Christopher Wray or other former FBI leaders.