US News
Records detail coded messages and 3D printing by Trump rally shooter
Fox News reports that records obtained by Judicial Watch show Thomas Matthew Crooks exchanged coded texts and investigated 3D-printed parts.
The short version
- Records obtained by Judicial Watch show Trump rally shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks sent coded text messages and discussed 3D printing components.[Fox News]
- Files indicate Crooks received a shipment from Hong Kong, captured drone imagery of sports stadiums, and once manufactured a Glock 19 handgun.[Fox News]
- Rally attendee James Copenhaver died on September 23, 2026, from medical complications stemming from wounds suffered during the July 2024 shooting.[Fox News]
Key facts
- Thomas Matthew Crooks exchanged coded text messages with an unknown party in February 2023 regarding 3D-printed components.[Fox News]
- Crooks transmitted short, obscure messages to a redacted contact between May 2023 and January 2024.[Fox News]
- Records released through Judicial Watch show Crooks received a DHL delivery from Hong Kong.[Fox News]
- Crooks gathered 40 drone images of Pittsburgh stadiums in February 2024.[Fox News]
- Crooks' father stated that his son previously fabricated a Glock 19 handgun using a 3D printer, carbon-fiber plastic, a dryer, and a toaster oven.[Fox News]
- Rally attendee James Copenhaver passed away on September 23, 2026, due to ongoing complications from gunshot injuries sustained at the event.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The identity of the contact who inquired about Crooks' 3D-printed parts remains unknown, and responses from another contact were redacted by the FBI.[Fox News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.