New York, United States — September 15, 2026
Source: Fox News Digital / Regional News Agencies
Newly released federal records have shed fresh light on Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman behind the July 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The documents, obtained by Fox News Digital and reviewed as part of an ongoing Senate investigation, reveal peculiar new details about the shooter’s preparation and the immediate aftermath of his death.
The “Bob Dole” Alias
In the lead-up to the shooting, Crooks utilized a fake name to procure materials linked to his plot. Investigators discovered that the Bethel Park resident used the alias “Bob Dole” to order suspicious packages, including gun parts, online. To maintain secrecy, Crooks meticulously tracked the shipments, intentionally intercepting the deliveries at his home before his father returned from work.
An Unidentified Benefactor
The records also contain a bizarre postscript regarding the handling of the shooter’s remains. Following his death at the hands of Secret Service agents at the rally, Crooks’ body was cremated shortly after the incident. According to statements made by a family attorney to federal investigators, the financial cost of this cremation was fully covered by an anonymous donor. The identity of the benefactor and their connection to the family, if any, remains unclear.
A Loner Profile
The ongoing Senate-reviewed inquiry includes detailed interviews with Crooks’ family members, painting a picture of profound social isolation. His father recounted to investigators that despite occasionally socializing with classmates, Crooks never formed any real friendships throughout his middle school and high school years.
The Search for a Motive
Despite the release of these new files, federal authorities and congressional investigators remain stumped on one central question: the definitive motive behind the assassination attempt. As officials continue to sift through digital footprints, encrypted communications, and family testimonies, the complete picture of what drove the 20-year-old to open fire remains elusive.
This is a developing story, and more updates are expected as the newly obtained documents are reviewed further.
What aspects of the ongoing federal investigation do you think require the most urgent transparency?
