Crime
Thomas Crooks Who Attempted to Assassinate Donald Trump Acted Alone and Disclosed No Intent Prior to the Attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. — FBI Director Kash Patel has provided a comprehensive overview of the extensive federal investigation into Thomas Crooks, outlining the scope, methodology, and key findings of the case.
According to Director Patel, the investigation mobilized significant FBI resources, involving more than 480 employees across multiple field offices.
The agency conducted a sweeping review of Crooks’ activities and digital footprint in an effort to determine motive, possible accomplices, and whether the attack was coordinated with any organization or external entity.
The investigation included:
- Over 1,000 witness and associate interviews
- More than 2,000 public tips processed and evaluated
- Collection and analysis of data from 13 seized electronic devices
- Review of approximately 500,000 digital files
- Examination of financial activity associated with 10 accounts
- Analysis of 25 social media and online forum profiles linked to Crooks
- Synchronized review of hundreds of hours of surveillance and publicly submitted video footage
Investigators examined more than 20 verified online identities associated with Crooks and performed forensic extraction of data from phones, computers, storage devices, and cloud-based accounts.
Based on available evidence, investigators concluded:
- Crooks acted alone and did not conspire with others.
- He did not share or leak his intent prior to carrying out the attack.
- His online activity reflected limited communication and minimal interaction with others.
- No credible evidence was found to indicate involvement in extremist networks or coordinated planning beyond his sole actions.
Director Patel emphasized that despite the scale and depth of the inquiry, no co-conspirators or external involvement were identified.
“The scale of this investigation reflects the seriousness of the incident and our commitment to ensuring that no detail was overlooked,” Director Patel stated. “Our findings demonstrate that Thomas Crooks planned and executed the attack independently, with no indication that others were aware of or connected to his intent.”
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.