Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania campaign rally, had apparently hinted at his attack online before the tragic incident. According to reports from Fox News, Crooks, who is 20 years old, wrote a threatening message on the gaming platform “Steam” just days before the shooting on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. In his message, Crooks stated, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.”
“Steam” is a widely used platform where millions of gamers purchase games and interact with each other. Investigators discovered this message as they continued to examine Crooks’ electronic devices, such as his cell phones and laptop. When looking through his laptop, authorities found several searches made in July related to Trump, Biden, the DNC convention date, and the July 13 Trump rally.
Despite the searches, investigators did not find any evidence of a specific ideology on Crooks’ laptop, which the FBI found significant. Additionally, during interviews, no one reported that Crooks had discussed politics. The suspect had two cell phones, with the primary phone being recovered at the scene alongside a remote transmitter. Another cell phone was found at his residence, containing only 27 contacts. The FBI is currently in the process of locating and interviewing these individuals.
The investigation took a new turn when it was revealed that Crooks’ parents had contacted law enforcement hours before the attempted assassination. They had reported him missing and expressed concerns about his well-being. It is unclear whether they were aware that Crooks had access to an AR-15 rifle belonging to his father. The actions taken by the police after being informed by Crooks’ parents have not been disclosed.
These new details shed light on the events leading up to the attempted assassination and raise questions about Crooks’ motives and state of mind. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the timeline of events and understand the factors that may have influenced Crooks’ actions. The safety and security of public figures remain a top priority, and efforts are being made to prevent similar incidents in the future.