Claim that Thomas Matthew Crooks was ‘arrested more than once’ is not supported by evidence

Trump campaign rally shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks had a limited online and social media presence. 

Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service snipers July 13 after he opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally. Crooks’ gunfire killed a spectator and injured two others, the FBI said. Trump’s ear also was nicked in what the FBI is calling an attempted assassination investigation.

Many news outlets have relied on Crooks’ high school yearbook photos in their reporting. But one social media post said the media is purposefully omitting other images of Crooks.

“Look at the pictures they chose to share of this deplorable. High school pictures where he looks innocent,” a July 14 Threads post read. “The man was problematic, arrested more than once, why aren’t they sharing his mug shots? Well, we know why!!”

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

The FBI’s investigation continues, but Crooks has no criminal history based on Pennsylvania’s court records or in federal records. According to an FBI statement, Crooks was never on federal law enforcement’s radar. Investigators said his family is cooperating. 

One account linked to Crooks was on Discord, a messaging app, but a Discord spokesperson told NPR, “We have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views.”

The AR-15-style 5.56 mm rifle Crooks used was legally purchased by his father, the FBI statement said. Crooks was part of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a gun club in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania.

We rate the claim that Crooks was “arrested more than once” False.

PolitiFact Researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

By

Ranjan Jindal

Staff writer

July 16, 2024

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

• Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter at former President Donald Trump’s July 13 campaign rally, does not have a public criminal history, according to records. The FBI said Crooks was not on its radar prior to the shooting. 

• Crooks’ father legally purchased the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting, law enforcement officials said. 

Statement

Trump campaign rally gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks was “arrested more than once.”

Context

a post on Threads

Speaker/Target

Speaker: Threads posts

Statement Date

July 14, 2024