The Republican who wanted to kill Trump
At a campaign rally of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, several shots were fired. The presidential candidate was hit in the ear. One participant died, and two others were severely injured. Security personnel shot the shooter at the scene. But who was the man who wanted to assassinate Trump?
According to the FBI, the assassin was identified as the 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park in the state of Pennsylvania. However, there is no further information about his person - at least not from official sources. "This is an active and ongoing investigation," the FBI stated in a statement. The motive of the shooter is also still completely unclear.
Crooks allegedly shot from an elevated position outside the event venue where Trump was speaking, according to the Secret Service. The officers reportedly found an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle near the man's body.
According to the "New York Times," Crooks had no criminal record that would reflect in the public court records of Pennsylvania. In addition, he was a registered Republican, as evidenced by the voter registration list of the state of Pennsylvania. However, there are still open questions about his political alignment: Reports indicate he donated $15 to a Democratic organization, ActBlue, on the day of Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021. The "New York Post" notes that Crooks was 17 years old at the time of the donation. He registered as a member of the Republican Party in September 2021, when he turned 18.
"It's Insane"
After the shots at Trump's campaign rally, police reportedly closed all streets to the house of Crooks in Bethel Park, located south of Pittsburgh and about an hour's drive from the event site in Butler. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) were reportedly on site. In addition, a bomb disposal team was reportedly present.
"It's insane that someone would do something like that," a neighbor told USA Today. He had planned to attend the Trump rally but decided against it due to the heat. "People are scared," he said. The entire neighborhood was in shock.
Investigations could still last long
The Pennsylvania police are now urgently investigating Crooks' motive. In addition, it needs to be clarified as soon as possible whether there were other perpetrators involved. However, according to the police spokesperson, the investigations could last Tages, Wochen or even Monate.
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. In a clip of the graduation ceremony 2022, Crooks is allegedly seen walking onto the stage under modest applause after his name was called out. The news outlet describes him as a slim young man with glasses in a black graduation gown.
In light of the United States Presidential Election 2024 approaching, the attempted assassination of former United States President Donald Trump at a campaign rally sparked significant political discussions. The alleged assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was just 20 years old at the time of the incident, had an interesting political background. Crooks, a registered Republican as per Pennsylvania's voter registration list, also donated $15 to a Democratic organization, ActBlue, on Joe Biden's inauguration day in 2021, according to media reports.
Amidst fears and investigations, the Republicans, along with the United States of America, are now evaluating the safety measures and political polarization leading up to the 2024 election.
