New reporting has raised questions about possible links between Thomas Crooks—the would-be assassin who attempted to kill Donald Trump in July 2024—and the killer of Turning Point USA activist Tyler Robinson. Commentary from journalist Miranda Devine and TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet suggests that Crooks’ online activity, which included interest in transgender identity and the furry subculture, mirrors elements connected to Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs. Devine noted that Crooks’ motive remains unclear despite investigators having access to a significant digital trail showing a shift from pro-Trump views to open hostility toward the former president and his supporters beginning in 2020.
Crooks’ online posts reportedly escalated into explicit calls for violence, including advocating “terrorism-style attacks” on government targets. Former FBI agent Rod Swanson expressed skepticism that federal authorities could have overlooked such behavior, saying any investigation would have left a record. Devine also highlighted Crooks’ use of “they/them” pronouns and deep immersion in furry communities, drawing parallels to Twiggs’ reported lifestyle. Commentators such as Jack Posobiec have demanded more transparency in the Robinson case, pointing to factors like drug use, black-market hormone treatments, and mental-health concerns.
The FBI, meanwhile, has pushed back against claims by Tucker Carlson that it lied about Crooks’ online footprint. Officials insisted they never said Crooks had no digital presence. More than a year after the shooting, few details have been released publicly about the 20-year-old who fired eight rounds from a rooftop, killing one rally attendee and injuring two others before being shot by Secret Service.