Federal Bureau of Investigation records obtained by Judicial Watch reveal that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman who opened fire at a 2024 rally and grazed President Trump's ear, exchanged text messages about 3D-printed components with an unidentified individual more than a year before the attack, according to TMZ.com.
The records, first reported by TMZ.com on October 2, 2026, document a February 9, 2023 text exchange in which the other party asked Crooks, "Did you 3D print the parts?" Crooks replied, "Yes, except for the fan blades," TMZ.com reported. The exchange followed an earlier message from Crooks that was fully redacted in the released records, prompting the other texter to respond, "woah that looks cool."
The FBI characterized the person on the other end of the conversation as an "unknown contact" and stated that the messages were "deemed pertinent" to its investigation into the attempted assassination, per TMZ.com.
The disclosure adds a new layer to the documented history of Crooks' interest in 3D-printed firearms. FBI interviews with Crooks' father, previously obtained by The Post, included his account that his son had once built a handgun using a 3D printer.
The July 2024 assassination attempt at the rally ended when a bullet appeared to graze Trump's ear. Audience members were also struck, and one person died at the scene. Crooks was killed by snipers, and an anonymous donor later covered the expense of his cremation, according to TMZ.com.