The FBI has released four new photos as part of its ongoing investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper after firing eight shots, injuring Trump and two rally attendees, and killing one person.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, provided new insights into Crooks’ actions leading up to the attack. Rojek described Crooks as having “engaged in detailed attack planning” and becoming “hyper-focused” on the Trump rally once it was announced, reported CBS news.

The FBI found that Crooks’ online activity included searches for Trump and Biden campaign events, as well as information on explosive devices and antisemitic content, though no clear motive has been established.
The newly released photos include images of Crooks’ AR-style rifle, disassembled and alongside a backpack he carried at the rally.

Another photo shows two improvised explosive devices found in Crooks’ car, which the FBI described as “relatively crude.” A final photo depicts an air conditioning unit that Crooks used to access the roof of the AGR building, where he opened fire, reported CBS news.

The FBI’s investigation remains ongoing, with no evidence suggesting Crooks worked with others or that a second gunman was involved. Trump has cooperated with the FBI, and investigators are continuing to seek information from Crooks’ parents, who have been described as “extremely cooperative.”
As the investigation continues, the FBI remains focused on uncovering the full extent of Crooks’ planning and any potential connections to extremist ideologies.