Those who remain quiet, usually are holding a storm within them. Thomas Matthew Crooks was also a promising 20 year old student with a quiet demeanor and strong academic record. However, now he will always be known as the man behind the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
A newly unearthed investigative detail has painted a darker portrait of Crooks. It gives insight into the slow mental unraveling of Thomas that led to the July 13 attack.
People around him, his classmates and neighbors, had described Crooks as an otherwise quiet kid who became increasingly withdrawn and erratic. Investigators uncovered disturbing signs of psychological decline. They found out about his habit of late-night conversations with himself and episodes of strange, erratic dancing alone in his bedroom.
He reportedly also became obsessed with political conspiracy theories. He then began to isolate himself from his friends and extended family. His family was aware of his mood swings but never connected the dots with the decline of his mental health.
It’s interesting that this is being claimed. pic.twitter.com/8qcFIfa1Gs
— The SCIF (@TheIntelSCIF) June 11, 2025
One of the sources close to the case noted that there were signs, but no one picked them up because they didn’t scream of imminent danger. Most of the people thought Crooks was just growing up and figuring himself out.
However, his mental health kept deteriorating. Alone in his room with his own company, Crooks meticulously began to plot. He laid the groundwork for the biggest crime he was going to commit.
Thomas Crooks went through a gradual and largely hidden transformation, from a meek engineering student critical of political polarization to a focused killer with mental illness who tried to kill Donald Trump https://t.co/JB6wUJmVS6 pic.twitter.com/GVFZc5MKG1
— Andreas Harsono (@andreasharsono) June 9, 2025
He acquired firearms and explosive materials using an alias. There were several homemade devices found near the scene, which gave authorities a reason to believe that he probably got them illegally, too.
Authorities also confirmed that Crooks had studied past political assassinations. He compiled detailed notes about rally security, layouts, and law enforcement response patterns.
🚨🇺🇸#BREAKING: The parents of Trump’s shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, are both behavioral counselors licensed with the state of PA. pic.twitter.com/djx84AkokP
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) July 14, 2024
Crook’s father, reportedly, is a legal gun owner and firearm enthusiast. When he noticed his son’s increased interest in weapons and tactical gear, he thought Thomas finally found a hobby. He did not take it as a warning sign.
Even though there were changes in Crooks’ behavior, they went largely unaddressed at home. These changes included secretive outings and growing paranoia.
On a warm summer afternoon in Butler, Pennsylvania when Donald Trump was addressing a large crowd, outdoors, Crooks found his moment. He positioned himself on a nearby rooftop with a high-powered rifle.
Assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The bullet pierced his ear. He barely escaped. pic.twitter.com/D86izogEGY
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) July 14, 2024
At approximately 6:13 p.m., he opened fire. He discharged eight rounds, out of which one wounded the Presidential nominee, Donald Trump. He was shielded by the Secret Service in a rapid response that saved his life.
Out of those eight bullets, one killed one of the members of the audience, and two others were seriously injured.
The rooftop that Crooks chose was poorly secured. It raised serious concerns about a pre-rally security briefing. It also raised doubts over law enforcement preparedness, and venue planning procedures.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
Trump assassination attempt :
– Trump thankfully ok.
– Shooter dead.
– One audience member dead, another critical.Footage below shows dead man, unknown if shooter or victim. pic.twitter.com/sugPKFCV5M
— MichaeloKeeffe (@Mick_O_Keeffe) July 13, 2024
In the aftermath of the shooting, the FBI launched an intensive investigation. It was then revealed that crooks had been planning this attack for more than a year. There were digital records, handwritten journals, and several searches on his computer that could easily tie him up to the crime. Crooks attended classes at a local community college and had a part-time job.
From the outside, he looked like any shy kid, but privately, he was spiraling into obsession and paranoia.
Those who knew him were shocked. One former classmate stated, “He never talked about politics or violence. To think he could do something like this is chilling.”
The incident has left Butler and the American public shocked and surprised. Lawmakers called for deeper scrutiny of mental health and firearm access. The attack underscores how hidden psychological turmoil can culminate in tragic consequences.
