FBI names suspected shooter, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
A complex yet sparse portrait is emerging of Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man who authorities say attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Saturday before being fatally shot by Secret Service agents.
Crooks resided in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white and generally affluent suburb of Pittsburgh. Public records indicate he lived with his parents, both licensed behavioral care counselors. These records show no criminal or traffic citations, nor any financial issues such as foreclosures.
During his time at Bethel Park High School, Crooks displayed no clear political leanings. As a junior, on the first day of Joe Biden’s presidency, he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a PAC aligned with the Democratic Party. His father is a registered Libertarian and his mother a registered Democrat. However, eight months later, Crooks registered as a Republican and maintained this affiliation through the November 2022 midterm elections. He was recognized with a $500 National Math and Science Initiative “star award” upon graduation. One classmate from a sophomore US history course described Crooks as “definitely conservative” and noted his steadfastness during a mock debate.
Another former classmate recalled that Crooks showed no particular interest in politics but was known for his intelligence, particularly in computers and games. This classmate was surprised by the news, describing Crooks as a “super smart kid.”
A different schoolmate from Bethel Park High described Crooks as being bullied frequently, partly due to his choice of “hunting” and “military” attire and his tendency to eat lunch alone. Jason Kohler, 21, told NBC News that Crooks was considered a “loner” and an “outcast” by peers. Kohler did not attribute the bullying to the assassination attempt but found the situation “kind of sad.”
Crooks reportedly had an account on Discord, a platform initially for gamers that has gained notoriety for its use by individuals planning violent acts. Discord stated that the account linked to Crooks was rarely used and showed no evidence of planning or discussing political views. The company condemned political violence and pledged to cooperate with law enforcement.
On Saturday, Crooks brought an AR-style rifle to a bottle manufacturing plant in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where Trump was speaking. Witnesses reported seeing Crooks aiming the rifle and warned officers, though their warnings were not immediately heeded. Crooks fired several shots toward the stage, killing one spectator and critically wounding two others. Trump sustained a minor injury but was otherwise unharmed.
The Secret Service returned fire, killing Crooks. Investigators traced the rifle to Crooks’s father, who had legally purchased it. Authorities found bomb-making materials in Crooks’s home and car and received reports of suspicious packages near the scene.
Graphic images of the scene showed Crooks wearing a T-shirt promoting a YouTube channel about guns and demolition. The channel’s host reacted with shock on social media.
The FBI identified Crooks as the would-be assassin and stated he appeared to have acted alone. Agents canvassed his neighborhood and reviewed his electronic devices, finding no immediate evidence of a larger plot or specific ideologies. Crooks’s social media contained no threats, and investigators found no evidence of mental health issues. His family is cooperating with the investigation.
Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where Crooks worked as a dietary aide, expressed shock and sadness, noting his clean background check and condemning all acts of violence.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/14/trump-rally-suspected-gunman-what-we-know
Image source: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2024/07/politics/photographers-trump-shooting-cnnphotos/
