Federal investigators have discovered thousands of online searches linked to the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The searches included inquiries about a teenage mass shooter in Michigan, two law enforcement sources told NBC News.
Thomas Matthew Crooks‘ phone history revealed searches related to the Oxford High School shooting and the 15-year-old gunman who killed four students and injured several others in suburban Detroit in 2021. The teenage shooter was sentenced to life in prison.
The case also led to involuntary manslaughter charges against the shooter’s parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison this past April, making them the first parents in the U.S. to be held partially responsible for their child’s school shooting, according to the outlet.
Read: Pennsylvania Gunman Used Surveillance Drone Before Shooting Former President Trump
In April, Crooks, 20, conducted internet searches about depressive disorder, according to the sources. In May, he researched explosive materials and chemical compounds and also looked up information about improvised explosive devices and the Department of Homeland Security.
Investigators found more than 14,000 links and images on Crooks’ phone, including a photo of Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, shortly before the shooting began when Trump took the stage around 6 p.m.
The former president survived the attack, which left a former fire chief dead and two other attendees injured. Crooks, who used an AR-15-style rifle, was killed during the chaos at the Butler Farm Show.
Read: Trump Expands Lead Over Biden Following Assassination Attempt In Pennsylvania
The aftermath of the shooting has led to scrutiny of law enforcement’s failure to secure the scene and other planning breakdowns.
Despite the extensive online history, Crooks’ motivation remains unclear. Investigators believe he acted alone and have found no evidence linking him to any obvious political ideologies.
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