The 20-year-old was shot dead by Secret Service after opening fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
On July 13 last year, President Donald Trump—then a presidential candidate—was shot as he spoke to supporters at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Moments after a bullet grazed his ear, he defiantly raised his fist and shouted «Fight! Fight! Fight!» The scene bolstered support for Trump—who said that God had saved him—and he went on to triumph in November’s election.
His would-be assassin, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, had first caught the attention of law enforcement that day when spectators noticed him acting strangely outside the event.
But couldn’t be found before he climbed onto a roof near the rally and opened fire. He killed a bystander and injured two others before he was shot dead by the Secret Service.
The incident revealed worrying security lapses and led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. An independent panel investigating the attempted assassination said the agency needed «fundamental reform.»
But a year on, many questions remain unanswered about the young man who came close to taking Trump’s life.What Was Thomas Matthew Crooks’ Motive?
The FBI looked at Crooks’ cellphone and his computer, and searched his home and car, yet his motive remains a mystery.
He left no manifesto or explanation for his actions and his social media footprint was thin.
