In a detailed report, the New York Times has provided new information regarding the mental state of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old individual who attempted to assassinate then-former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. The report, based on extensive documents and interviews, suggests that Crooks underwent a ‘descent into madness’ leading up to the incident, which was marked by his interactions with an unseen entity and a growing interest in building explosives.
The article details that Crooks, initially a meek engineering student who criticized political polarization, gradually transformed into a focused individual with a singular purpose. The report, citing thousands of pages of school assignments, internet activity logs, and interviews with people who knew him, describes how Crooks’s transformation was largely hidden and gradual. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., who served on a Congressional task force that investigated the incident, noted the mysterious nature of Crooks’s mental state change, especially after learning about his interactions with what he perceived as an unseen entity.
Crooks’s academic achievements were impressive, with a SAT score of 1530 out of a possible 1600 and a place on the dean’s list at the Community College of Allegheny County. He was preparing to transfer to Robert Morris University, where he intended to pursue a career in aerospace or robotics. However, his academic success did not preclude his eventual descent into an isolated and dangerous mindset, as evidenced by his increasing focus on firearms and explosives. The FBI reportedly noted over 25 firearm-related purchases made by Crooks using an alias.
Family members also reported concerns about Crooks’s mental health, particularly after his May 2024 graduation. His father noted that Crooks was talking to himself and dancing around in his bedroom late at night, which coincided with a family history of mental health and addiction issues. These signs went unnoticed by those around him, including his teachers and classmates, who had previously characterized him as a bright and intelligent student.
The report also highlights Crooks’s online activities, which included an interest in news and gun websites, as well as the Trump administration’s archives. His searches led to queries about the Kennedy assassination and questions related to mental health, indicating a potential fixation on both real and symbolic violence. Despite these troubling signs, Crooks continued to work as a dietary aide at a nursing facility in the weeks leading up to the attack, suggesting a level of normalcy in his daily life that was perhaps misleading.
On the night of the shooting, ATF agents visited Crooks’s home but had to evacuate after discovering potential explosives. The agents then conducted an interview with his parents, who expressed ignorance about their son’s activities, despite the apparent danger he posed. These findings underscore the complexities of mental health, the importance of early intervention, and the challenges in monitoring and addressing the behavior of individuals who may be at risk.