Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump last month, conducted extensive online research on both Trump and President Joe Biden before the attack, according to FBI officials. Crooks identified the Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13 as a “target of opportunity,” with his plans involving multiple potential targets.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek, head of the Pittsburgh field office, provided these details during a briefing, noting that while they have a clear understanding of Crooks’s mindset, they have not yet determined a definitive motive. Despite interviewing nearly 1,000 individuals as part of the investigation, the exact reasons behind Crooks’s actions remain unclear.