Federal investigators say Thomas Matthew Crooks used the alias “Bob Dole” to buy gear and parts before the Butler rally shooting that wounded President Trump and killed a supporter.
Story Highlights
- FBI materials say Crooks used multiple fake names, including “Bob Dole,” to buy tactical gear and parts.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) called the Butler rally shooting an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism.
- Investigators publicly identified Crooks as the gunman and said he acted alone based on current findings.
- Alias-based buying let a would-be assassin hide in plain sight until the deadly attack.
FBI Says Crooks Used Aliases, Including “Bob Dole,” for Purchases
FBI summary materials state Crooks used several false names to make online buys before the attack. The document lists “Bill Cook” and “Bob Dole” among the aliases tied to tactical gear and weapons parts. Investigators assessed the alias use as a way to shield his activity from easy tracking. This detail explains how a 20-year-old suspect quietly gathered items for months while avoiding simple red flags in normal checks and retail systems.
The tactic shows how criminals exploit weak points in online commerce. Third-party sellers and fast shipping make it easy to split orders across time and platforms. Crooks’ alias activity, as described by the FBI, highlights a gap that Congress and states should examine. Basic identity checks, better address matching, and faster law-enforcement alerts could slow this kind of covert stockpiling, without burdening honest buyers who follow the law and respect the Second Amendment.
What Happened at Butler and How Investigators Framed It
The Federal Bureau of Investigation officially labeled the July 13 Butler rally shooting an assassination attempt and a potential act of domestic terrorism. The attack wounded President Trump, killed one attendee, and injured others. The FBI’s early public statements identified Crooks by name and set the scope for a full federal inquiry. That framing matters for charging paths, evidence sharing, and how state and federal agencies coordinate next steps.
Public reporting during the initial phase said investigators believed Crooks acted alone. That finding fit the early evidence picture and shaped the resource focus on his digital trail, purchases, and movements. As with any federal case, that assessment could shift if hard evidence shows co-conspirators. But the lone-actor view has anchored most official updates to date and guided how authorities briefed the public and Congress.
Why Alias Buying Matters for Public Safety and Liberty
Alias buying is a known concealment method in criminal cases. When tied to real transaction records and devices, it helps investigators map intent and timing. In this case, FBI materials connect Crooks’ fake names to gear and parts linked to the attack planning. That link supports clear lessons for policy: target fraud and deception at the point of sale and shipment, stop bad actors faster, and avoid sweeping rules that punish millions of lawful owners and families.
🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: An "anonymous donor" PAID for the cremation of attempted Butler PA Trump assassin Thomas Crooks, and he received suspicious packages under the Alias "BOB DOLE" — Fox News
What in the world?!
pic.twitter.com/yuKi4duHU5— Julian paul Assange™️ (@Julianpaulpct5) September 15, 2026
After two years of inflation and chaos from past big-government mistakes, Americans want tools that work, not new blanket bans. Congress and state leaders can tighten identity checks for certain online items, set stronger address verification, and improve rapid notices when flagged buyers start to pattern purchases. Those steps defend public safety while honoring constitutional rights. They also back the core conservative view: hold criminals to account, keep families safe, and protect liberty from one-size-fits-all controls.
