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 seriously injured. Security guards 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 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park in the state of Pennsylvania. However, there is no further information about his person from official sources. "This is an active and ongoing investigation," the FBI stated in a statement. The motive of the shooter is also completely unclear.
Crooks allegedly shot from an elevated position outside the event venue where Trump was speaking, in the open air. The officers reportedly found an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle near the man's body on the roof.
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. This is evident from the voter registry 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. In September 2021, he registered as a member of the Republican Party, turning 18.
"It's Insane"
After the shots at Trump's campaign rally, police reportedly closed all streets to the media towards the house of Crooks in Bethel Park. It is located south of Pittsburgh and is approximately 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 of the USA Today newspaper said. He had planned to participate in Trump's rally but decided against it due to the heat. "People are scared," he said. The entire neighborhood was in shock.
Investigations could still last a long time
The Pennsylvania Police are now focusing on urgently determining the motive of Crooks. In addition, it must be clarified as soon as possible whether there were other accomplices. However, according to the police spokesman, the investigations could last Tages, Wochen or even Monate.
Crooks allegedly 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 said to be seen walking onto the stage under subdued applause when his name was called. The news portal describes him as a slim young man with glasses in a black graduation gown.
The United States Presidency Election 2024 could see discussions revolving around the incident involving Donald Trump, as the alleged shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was a registered Republican in the state of Pennsylvania. Despite donating to a Democratic organization on Joe Biden's inauguration day, Crooks later registered as a Republican at age 18.
In the context of the United States of America's politics, the Republicans might find themselves grappling with the fallout from this unexpected event, especially considering the close connection between the party and the former president, Donald Trump.
