Brief
FBI documents reveal texts by would‑be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks about 3D‑printed gun parts
FOIA‑obtained FBI files show Crooks discussing 3D‑printed components and exchanging cryptic messages with unidentified contacts before the Butler, Pa., shooting.
By Felo News Desk · Published
FOIA‑released FBI documents obtained by Judicial Watch show that Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, exchanged a series of text messages with an unidentified contact about 3D‑printed gun parts and other cryptic communications.
What happened
The records include a February 9, 2023, message to Crooks asking, “Did you 3D print the parts?” Crooks replied, “Yes, except for the fan blades.” A later exchange on an unknown date contains the phrase, “Woah that looks cool,” from the unknown contact, followed by a request for the parts. The messages span May 21, 2023, to January 3, 2024, and consist largely of one‑ or two‑word strings such as “Hello red …” and “Yolo.” Additional texts from December 25, 2022, show Crooks thanking an unidentified individual for “gifts.”
What the reports add
The New York Post notes that the FBI deemed the messages “pertinent” to the investigation of Crooks’ July 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania, shooting, in which he grazed Trump’s ear and wounded three rally‑goers. The outlet also cites Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley’s acquisition of related investigative records, which include statements from Crooks’ father, Matthew, confirming that Crooks owned a 3D printer and once attempted to produce a Glock 19 using carbon‑fiber plastic, a dryer and a toaster oven.
What was said
According to the Post, Matthew Crooks told investigators that his son fired only a single round from the printed Glock because he feared the frame would explode, and that he did not permit further use. The FBI has not commented on the texts, and officials declined to respond to a request for comment.
How it came about
The documents were released after Judicial Watch filed a Freedom of Information Act request, weeks after the Post reported on Crooks’ 3D‑printer experiments. The release adds detail to earlier coverage of the July 2024 assassination attempt and highlights the ongoing investigation into Crooks’ communications and technical capabilities.
Key facts
- Thomas Crooks texted an unknown contact about 3D‑printed gun parts on Feb. 9, 2023. (nypost.com)
- Crooks responded that he printed the parts except for fan blades. (nypost.com)
- Messages between May 21, 2023, and Jan. 3, 2024, were largely cryptic one‑ or two‑word strings. (nypost.com)
- Crooks’ father confirmed his son owned a 3D printer and once printed a Glock 19. (nypost.com)
- The FBI deemed the texts pertinent to the July 13, 2024, Butler, PA, shooting investigation. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks texted mystery persons about his 3D printer and ‘gifts’”
