Newly released documents describe witness accounts, security gaps, and prior concerns before the July 2024 assassination attempt.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Newly released Federal Bureau of Investigation records describe a series of events and observations leading up to the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt against Donald Trump, including reports that the suspect was involved in a confrontation and made hostile remarks shortly before the shooting.
The documents were obtained by Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, resulting in the release of 27 heavily redacted pages of FBI records, as first reported by Judicial Watch.
JW v DOJ Crooks Prod 3 02216 by yourNEWS Media
According to an FBI FD-302 report dated July 17, a witness told investigators that Thomas Matthew Crooks had “an altercation with a group of people” at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally site prior to the shooting. The same witness reported seeing Crooks climb a nearby building shortly after the incident, according to the investigative report.
A second attendee interviewed by agents described hearing the disturbance and reported that Crooks made “hateful” comments directed at Trump just before the candidate took the stage. The witness was uncertain whether Crooks was recording the event or communicating on a phone.
Additional records describe another report made to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, in which a woman identified a “suspicious individual” behaving nervously in a parking area. She recorded the license plate of a Hyundai vehicle she believed was connected to the individual, according to a separate FD-302 report.
Law enforcement coordination and preparedness also emerged as issues in the documents. A Butler County Sheriff’s Office deputy stated she received minimal briefing prior to the event and was not informed about the use of deadly force protocols. According to the report, she was assigned to monitor a fence line and had limited visibility of key areas, including portions of the building from which shots were later believed to have originated.
The deputy also described confusion over radio communications between agencies and recalled receiving a “be on the lookout” alert for a man matching Crooks’ description, including references to a bicycle, backpack, and a possible range finder. She said she was attempting to relay the information when gunfire began, estimating that five to six shots were fired.
Another FBI interview with a member of the Beaver County Sheriff’s Emergency Services Unit indicated that communication between local teams and the U.S. Secret Service was limited or nonexistent during the event. The individual said their team had no direct coordination with federal or state agencies, according to a separate report.
Investigators also confirmed that Crooks had registered to attend the rally one week prior using a virtual private network, according to a report. Records indicate he requested a single ticket and did not register for other campaign events or make political contributions.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said the records revealed additional warning signs that preceded the attack. “It should not have taken two years and a federal lawsuit to find out that the Butler shooter was involved in an altercation with Trump supporters and made hateful comments towards Trump at the Butler rally minutes before he nearly killed Trump,” he said.
The newly disclosed materials follow earlier releases, including 37 pages of FBI documents made public in February 2026. Judicial Watch has also pursued additional litigation related to the incident, including a lawsuit seeking records from the Department of Homeland Security regarding security planning for the rally.
Other related legal actions include efforts to obtain Secret Service communications and investigative materials tied to subsequent incidents involving Trump, as well as body camera footage from local law enforcement.
The documents provide further detail into the timeline and response surrounding the Butler rally, as investigations into the attempted assassination and related security measures continue.