The latest update
New records from the FBI obtained by Judicial Watch are shedding light on the behavior of Thomas Matthew Crooks leading up to the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The documents reveal a series of encrypted or coded text messages that raise major red flags about his planning process.
In early 2023, Crooks was in contact with an unidentified person who asked if he was 3D printing components. Later that year, between May 2023 and January 2024, Crooks sent a bizarre string of messages filled with one-word phrases like "Hello red" and random gibberish. The FBI has kept the identity of the recipient under wraps, and the full context of these conversations remains unknown.
A history of 3D printing
It's been confirmed that Crooks had an intense interest in 3D printing. His father, Matthew Crooks, told investigators that his son had previously attempted to manufacture a Glock 19 using carbon fiber plastic, a toaster oven, and a dryer. His father claims he caught wind of the project and banned it, fearing the weapon would explode. Additionally, the FBI documents show Crooks received a package from Hong Kong via DHL.
Further investigation uncovered that Crooks took at least 40 drone photos of Pittsburgh sports venues, including PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium, throughout February 2024.
Why it matters
This comes as the nation continues to mourn the victims of the July 13, 2024, shooting. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old fire chief, was killed while shielding his family. More recently, James Copenhaver, a 76-year-old veteran who was critically wounded during the attack, passed away on September 23, 2026, due to complications from his injuries. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton is now pushing the FBI to stop the "slow drip" of redacted info and release the full investigative file, noting that the plot thickens as the long-term impacts of the tragedy persist.
