Thomas Crooks texts about 3D‑printed parts and gifts, FBI deems them pertinent
On Oct. 2, 2026, FBI documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Thomas Crooks, the would‑be assassin of former President Donald Trump, exchanged text messages about 3D‑printed firearm parts and about "gifts" with an unidentified contact, and the bureau labeled the exchanges as "pertinent" to its investigation.
The revelation adds a new layer of detail to a case that has already drawn intense scrutiny. Crooks’ July 13, 2024, attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, left the president with a graze wound to the ear, killed firefighter Corey Comperatore, and wounded two rally attendees before a counter‑sniper killed Crooks. The newly released messages suggest he may have continued to discuss weapon components and other logistics after the attack.
One message dated Feb. 9, 2023, asks, "Did you 3D print the parts?" The reply, "Yes, except for the fan blades," indicates that Crooks was actively using a 3D printer to fabricate components. Earlier reports note that his father, Matthew Crooks, told investigators the son owned a 3D printer and once attempted to produce a Glock‑19 using carbon‑fiber plastic, a prototype that fired only a single round before the frame failed.
Additional texts from Dec. 25, 2022, show a brief exchange about "gifts": "Thanks for the gifts" followed by "Your welcome. Thanks as well." The content of the gifts was not disclosed, and the incoming messages to Crooks remain redacted.
The records also contain a cryptic "chat thread" spanning May 2023 to Jan. 2024, consisting mainly of one‑ or two‑word strings such as "Hello red" and "Yolo." The incoming side of that conversation is fully redacted, leaving analysts unable to determine its relevance. Separate FBI notes mention a package delivery from Hong Kong and a series of drone flights captured between Feb. 6 and Feb. 27, 2024, that photographed Pittsburgh landmarks, including PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium, as well as flight logs from the day of the Butler attack.
Federal officials have not explained why the 3D‑printer texts, gift messages, and drone imagery were deemed pertinent. Judicial Watch has called for the full release of the heavily redacted files, urging the bureau to stop the "slow drip" of limited records. The FBI has not responded to requests for comment, and the investigation remains ongoing.
