Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’
Would-be Donald Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks practiced firing rounds at his local gun club dozens of times — including on Christmas Day — in the lead-up to the rally attack, newly obtained records show.
The 20-year-old dedicated about 80% of his time to rifle practice during his slew of visits to the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in Pennsylvania, according to the records obtained and released by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday.
“He focused almost exclusively on the rifle range throughout 2024,” Grassley’s office said in a statement, adding that the newly released logs were proof of Crooks’ “intense preparation” before unleashing his July 13 attack on Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa.
In total, Crooks logged 43 visits to the gun club after signing up as a member last August, the records show.
He signed in for practice 20 times within the first four months of his membership alone and averaged roughly three to six practices a month this year, according to the attendance logs.
Crooks, who never brought a guest with him for the target practice, visited the range on Christmas Day and Halloween last year, as well as Valentine’s Day this year.
His last visit was logged at 2:45 p.m. Friday, July 12 — a day before he opened fire on the former president with an AR-15 rifle from a nearby roof.
The would-be assassin ended up being shot dead by a Secret Service counter-sniper just moments after he managed to clip Trump in the ear with one of his bullets and killed a bystander.
The newly released attendance records were turned over by the gun club following a congressional request, Grassley’s office said.
Would-be Trump assassin's timeline of terror
They emerged the same day that new bodycam footage was released showing the moment a local Butler Township cop was boosted onto the roof where Crooks was perched — and found himself staring down the barrel of the gunman’s rifle.
The footage showed the officer being lifted up by a fellow cop and peering over the edge of the roof.
Just moments later, he could be seen dropping down and sprinting around the building in an apparent bid to warn fellow officers and bystanders watching nearby.
“He’s got glasses, long hair,” the officer said in the clip as he described Crooks’ backpack and the AR-15 rifle he was carrying.
Seconds later, Crooks started firing off rounds.
His body was later discovered covered in his own blood when cops and agents swarmed the rooftop.
