Would-Be Trump Assassin: Inspired by Infamous Mass Shooter Ethan Crumbley

Thomas Crooks, the suspect in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, researched Ethan Crumbley, a high school shooter who killed four students and injured seven others in Michigan in 2021. Before attempting to kill Trump, Crooks looked up Crumbley, who is now serving a life sentence without parole.

Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old suspect in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, researched Ethan Crumbley, a high school shooter who killed four students and injured seven others in Michigan in 2021, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Would-Be Trump Assassin: Inspired by Infamous Mass Shooter Ethan Crumbley

Ethan Crumbley, now 18, is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole after committing the deadly shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021, when he was just 15 years old.

Before attempting to kill Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Crooks looked up Crumbley, the source told Fox News Digital. Following Crumbley's historic conviction, his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Would-Be Trump Assassin: Inspired by Infamous Mass Shooter Ethan Crumbley

Prosecutors argued that the couple did not properly secure their guns and home and did not get their son the help he needed before the shooting. The parents even visited Oxford High School administrators to discuss their son's disturbing drawings he made in class the same morning of the deadly shooting.

Crooks' other internet search history included photos of Trump and Biden, the Democratic National Convention (DNC), and "major depressive disorder," as The New York Times previously reported.

Would-Be Trump Assassin: Inspired by Infamous Mass Shooter Ethan Crumbley

Investigators learned of Crooks' search history after cracking his phone, according to the Times. FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed investigators' findings during Wednesday's congressional hearing, where he said the FBI has conducted 200 interviews and combed through 14,000 images on Crooks' phone.

Federal officials are still working to determine a motive behind Crooks' assassination attempt against the former president, which left former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department chief Corey Comperatore, 50, dead and two others — David "Jake" Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74 — critically wounded. They are now in stable but serious condition.

Would-Be Trump Assassin: Inspired by Infamous Mass Shooter Ethan Crumbley

Crooks also visited the rally site at least one time before Saturday's shooting, Wray reportedly said.

The assassination attempt on Trump has raised concerns about the potential for political violence in the United States. The suspect's apparent interest in mass shootings is particularly troubling, as it suggests a growing trend of copycat crimes inspired by high-profile incidents.

Investigators are continuing to search for clues that could help them understand Crooks' motives and prevent future attacks. The FBI is reportedly looking into Crooks' mental health history and any potential connections to extremist groups.

The attempted assassination of Trump is a reminder of the dangers posed by political extremism and the need for law enforcement to be vigilant in preventing future attacks.