Trump shooter's last online search was for pornography before failed assassination attempt

The final internet search of Donald Trump's shooter before he opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally has been revealed

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Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 20/07/2024

- 14:32

Updated: 20/07/2024

- 14:33

Thomas Matthew Crooks shot the former US president's ear

The final internet search of Donald Trump's shooter before he opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally has been revealed.

Thomas Matthew Crooks' final online search on his encrypted Samsung phone was pornography, a senior law enforcement official has claimed.


The FBI finally gained access to the 20-year-old's phone after it was flown from Pittsburgh to Quantico for agents to investigate, the source told the Daily Beast.

Initial attempts by the FBI at the Pittsburgh field office to break into the device failed.

Donald Trump and Thomas Matthew CrooksThe final internet search of Donald Trump's shooter before he opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally has been revealedGetty

Other recent activity found included texts from Crooks’ parents asking where he was.

The first message was sent at 1pm and more were sent into the afternoon.

It is understood that Crooks' parents thought he had taken one of his father’s AR-15 rifles to a local shooting range.

Around 6pm local time last Saturday, Trump was shot in the ear and an audience member was killed.

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Crooks' also critically wounded two others.

The 20-year-old was then shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

Following the shooting, officers found four rifle magazines near his body and a remote control that could detonate the explosives found in his car nearby.

The FBI are now focussing on Crooks' laptop and hard drives that were found in his bedroom.

Donald Trump raises fist and mouths 'fight' to crowd

Donald Trump raised his fist and mouthed 'fight' to crowd

GETTY IMAGES/TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICE/HANDOUT

Law enforcement sources said the shooter also searched for Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley and other mass shooters.

Crooks even had a photo of Crumbley saved on his mobile device and information about his parents.

In the days leading up to the shooting, Crooks had looked up both Trump and President Biden.

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