Attempts on Trump's life were supposedly mobbed
Motives Unknown, Thomas Crooks' Classmates Know Little About Him: The Alleged Trump Assailant was a Reserved Young Man, Frequently Exposed to Mockery from His Classmates.
Shots during a campaign rally for former US President Donald Trump in the state of Pennsylvania caused shock beyond US borders. Trump survived the attack on Saturday in Butler with just a hair's breadth, suffering only a light injury to the ear. A 50-year-old firefighter and family man died, and two other men in the crowd were severely injured. The suspected shooter, who had fired several shots from the roof of a nearby building, was shot by Secret Service agents. The FBI identified him as the 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
A driver's license photo of Crooks shows a young man with side-parted dark-blonde hair, glasses, and a few freckles on his face. Crooks' former classmates described him as a "quiet" student who often seemed "lonely," as reported by ABC News. One classmate reportedly said Crooks had been "socially withdrawn." He couldn't remember ever hearing Crooks talk about politics in general or Trump specifically. Jason Kohler, who reportedly attended the same high school as the alleged shooter, told reporters that Crooks had been bullied. "He was quiet, but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much." Crooks, who occasionally wore hunter clothing, was reportedly mocked for his clothing style.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, which has approximately 1400 students. In the same year, he received a $500 prize from the National Math and Science Initiative. A clip of the graduation ceremony in 2022 shows Crooks walking onto the stage under subdued applause after his name was called. The news outlet described him as a slim young man wearing glasses and a black graduation robe.
Dan Grzybek, a local councilman from the area where Crooks grew up, described his neighborhood to the New York Times as "quite solidly middle class, perhaps upper middle class." The Times reported further that Crooks had worked in a nursing home, and the institution was shocked by his actions in Butler.
Legally Obtained Weapon and No Military Connections
After the attempted assassination of Trump, investigators found a suspicious item in Crooks' car, which was examined by bomb experts and is being further analyzed. Preliminary findings indicated that explosive material was seized as evidence. The investigating authorities are also examining the data from Crooks' cell phone.
According to FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek, Crooks used a semi-automatic AR-type rifle for his crime, which was legally purchased. The investigators believe that the weapon belonged to Crooks' father. However, it was unclear how his son obtained the gun.
Rojek stated that no evidence of a psychological condition in Crooks was found initially. According to Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder, the young man had no military connections. The FBI is investigating the attempted assassination for attempted murder and possible domestic terrorism.
Lone Actor, No Ideology
The FBI is currently investigating Crooks for attempted murder and potential domestic terrorism. Initial findings suggest that Crooks acted alone and had no known ideology. The investigation is ongoing.
The FBI believes that Crooks acted alone. The investigators have not identified any "ideology" behind the act so far. Crooks' political stance is still unclear. According to media reports, he was registered as a voter for Trump's Republicans. However, he also donated money to a progressive group for political actions that has connections to the Democratic Party.
Discord reported that it identified a user account that apparently belonged to the suspect. However, it was "seldom used." Discord did not find "any indication that it was used by Crooks to plan this incident, incite violence, or discuss his political views."
Apparently, Crooks' father cannot explain what drove his son to shoot at Trump. He is trying to clarify "what the hell is going on," before he can publicly speak about his son, Matthew Crooks told CNN.
Despite his registered affiliation with Donald Trump's Republican party and donations to a progressive group, there is currently no clear ideology identified in Thomas Matthew Crooks' actions during the United States Presidency Election 2024 rally attempt. Attempts to understand his motives have been complicated, with his father expressing confusion and sharing that he is trying to make sense of the situation.
After the shooting incident, investigations revealed that Thomas Crooks had legally acquired a semi-automatic AR-type rifle, which was believed to have been purchased by his father. However, the investigation into how Crooks obtained the weapon is still ongoing.
