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Thomas Matthew Crooks

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Thomas Matthew Crooks
Undated driver's license photo of Crooks
Born(2003-09-20)September 20, 2003
DiedJuly 13, 2024(2024-07-13) (aged 20)
Meridian, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
BildungBethel Park High School
Community College of Allegheny County (AS)
Known forAttempted assassination of Donald Trump
MotiveUnder investigation
Details
DateJuly 13, 2024
Location(s)Near Butler in Meridian, Pennsylvania
Killed1
Injured3 (including Donald Trump)
WeaponAR-15–style rifle

Thomas Matthew Crooks (September 20, 2003 – July 13, 2024) was an American man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and at that time presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election.[1][2]

On July 13, 2024, at a political rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks shot at Trump with a AR-15–style rifle from a nearby rooftop while Trump was giving a speech, injuring Trump and two attendees, and killing another. He was immediately killed by the Secret Service Counter Assault Team. Misinformation and conspiracy theories about him have proliferated. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is underway and his motivation remains unknown.

Recollections about Crooks from peers relating to his high school persona, political views, and biographical information have varied considerably and are inconsistent with one another.[3]

Early life and education

Thomas Matthew Crooks was born on September 20, 2003,[1] and was raised in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[4] The neighborhood he lived in was described as "middle-class, maybe upper-middle class".[5] Both of his parents worked as licensed social workers.[6][7] Recollections about Crooks from peers relating to his high school persona and biographical information have varied considerably and are inconsistent with one another.[3]

He attended Bethel Park High School, where he was known as an above-average student, and graduated in 2022.[7][8] Classmates and school officials characterized him as quiet, with classmates claiming he was often bullied,[2][7][9] including for his quiet demeanor, and for wearing camouflage hunting outfits and masks to school.[9][10] Crooks enjoyed playing chess and video games, and was learning how to code.[11] He received a $500 "star award" the same year from the National Math and Science Initiative.[7][12]

Current and former Bethel Park High School students have said that Crooks tried out for his school's rifle team, but did not make the team due to poor aim during tryouts; the Bethel Park School District said there is no record of Crooks trying out for the team.[13][14] He briefly appeared in a 2023 advertisement for the investment firm BlackRock which was filmed at his high school; BlackRock pulled the ad from circulation after the attempted assassination.[6][15]

Crooks graduated with high honors and received an associate degree in engineering science from the Community College of Allegheny County two months before the shooting. He was employed as a dietary aide in a local nursing home at the time of the shooting.[5][11][14][16] He was accepted into both the University of Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University.[17]

He had no known criminal record,[1][18] and the FBI said there was no indication he had mental health problems.[19] The U.S. Department of Defense found that he had no history of military service.[20] However, a former classmate said that Crooks was previously interested in military service as a means to access a college education.[21] He had a membership at a local shooting club for at least a year.[22]

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

On July 14, 2024, the FBI identified Crooks as the shooter behind the attempted assassination of Donald Trump the previous day.[23] He had climbed atop a building that was being used by police as a staging area.[24] Crooks shot Trump in the upper right ear at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.[25] He also shot three adult male audience members,[26] killing 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and critically injuring two others.[27] He used an AR-15–style rifle that had been legally purchased by his father.[28] On the day of the attack, Crooks purchased over 50 rounds of ammunition before going to the rally.[29]

Crooks was killed by a member of the United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team after he began firing.[30] Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home.[20] An investigation by the FBI is underway and his motivation remains unknown.[31] Misinformation and conspiracy theories about Crooks have proliferated.[32]

Political activities

Authorities have stated that it is unknown what his political views were, or whether the assassination attempt was related to them.[3] He had only voted in the 2022 midterm elections.[6]

Recollections about Crooks's political views from teachers, classmates, and peers who reportedly interacted with him have varied significantly and are inconsistent with one another.[3] Public records have similarly not given any good indication of his views; his political activities have additionally seemingly showcased diverging and internally contradicting beliefs, with no known posts on social media websites or writings indicating his ideology.[33] On January 20, 2021, at the age of 17, he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a liberal voter turnout group, through the Democratic Party donation platform ActBlue.[8][12][14][34] His donation was made the same day President Joe Biden was sworn into office.[7] According to the Progressive Turnout Project, he made the donation in response to an e-mail about "tuning into" the inauguration and was unsubscribed from the group's mailing list in 2022.[6] His voter registration was active since September 2021, the month he turned 18,[1] and his party registration was Republican.[1][2][12][35]

See also


References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jacoby, Kenny; Cann, Christopher; Le Coz, Emily; Bhat, Suhail (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks identified: What we know". USA Today. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Reilly, Ryan J.; O'Donnell, Kelly; Winter, Tom; Dienst, Jonathan (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter identified as 20-year-old Pennsylvania man". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Vargas, Ramon Antonio (July 15, 2024). "Former classmate describes Trump rally gunman as 'definitely conservative'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 15, 2024. Recollections about Crooks' political views and high school experience vary considerably.
  4. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (July 14, 2024). "FBI names suspect, 20, as 'subject involved' in Trump rally shooting". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Robertson, Campbell; Healy, Jack; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Thrush, Glenn (July 14, 2024). "Here's What Is Known About the Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Freeman, Danny; Lybrand, Holmes; Tolan, Casey; Kamp, Majlie de Puy; Devine, Curt (July 14, 2024). "What we know about the Trump rally gunman so far". CNN. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Deto, Ryan (July 14, 2024). "Who is Thomas Crooks, the alleged gunman in the Trump shooting?". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Josefczyk, Aaron; Ward, Jasper; Singh, Kanishka (July 14, 2024). "Here's what we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump rally shooter". Reuters.
  9. ^ a b Jacoby, Kenny; Cann, Christopher; Le Coz, Emily; Bhat, Suhail (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks identified: What we know". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Seldin, Jeff (July 14, 2024). "New information emerges on Trump shooting suspect". Voice of America. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Mejia, Brittny; Hernandez, Angie Orellana; Esquivel, Paloma (July 14, 2024). "20-year-old who almost killed Trump was a bright student, had a job and belonged to a gun club". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ a b c Healy, Jack; Baker, Mike; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Benner, Katie (July 14, 2024), "Here's What Is Known About the Suspected Gunman", The New York Times, archived from the original on July 14, 2024
  13. ^ Biesecker, Michael; Durkin Richer, Alanna; Mustian, Jim; Balsamo, Michael (July 14, 2024). "Authorities hunt for clues, but motive of man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump remains elusive". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c McArthur, Tom (July 14, 2024). "Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about Donald Trump shooting suspect". BBC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Victoria Cavaliere (July 14, 2024). "BlackRock says gunman from Trump rally briefly appeared in an ad for the top money manager and was unpaid". Fortune. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Suspected Trump shooter graduated from community college with 'high honors'". ABC News. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "Gunman planned to attend local 4-year university this fall". ABC News. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Kilner, James (July 14, 2024). "Thomas Matthew Crooks: Who was the Donald Trump shooting suspect?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  19. ^ De Guzman, Chad (July 15, 2024). "What We Know—and Don't Know—So Far About the Trump Rally Gunman". TIME. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Copp, Tara (July 14, 2024). "Military has no records of shooter in apparent Trump assassination attempt serving". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Morrison, Oliver (July 14, 2024). "Alleged Trump shooter: Smart, quiet, say Bethel Park community members". WESA.
  22. ^ "Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about Donald Trump's attacker". BBC News. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Thomas Matthew Crooks identified as Trump shooter". United Press International. July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  24. ^ New video shows Trump shooter climbing onto the roof at rally. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Biden condemns 'sick' attempt on Trump's life". BBC News. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  26. ^ Powell, Tori B.; Shelton, Shania; Meyer, Matt; D'Antonio, Isabelle; Tucker, Emma; Yeung, Jessie; Faheid, Dalia; Orie, Amarachi; Shen, Michelle; Williams, Michael; Chowdhury, Maureen (July 13, 2024). "Live updates: Trump survives assassination attempt". CNN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  27. ^ "Update from Michael Gold". The New York Times. July 13, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  28. ^ Yasmin, Shahana; Rohrlich, Justin. "What we know about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at Trump at his Pennsylvania rally". The Independent. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  29. ^ "New details emerge in Trump assassination attempt investigation". ABC News. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  30. ^ Tanyos, Faris (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter killed by Secret Service sniper, officials say". CBS News. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  31. ^ Morris-Grant, Brianna; Burgess, Annika (July 15, 2024). "Trump rally shooter's motives remain unknown as investigators find explosive materials in car". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  32. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (July 15, 2024). "'BlueAnon' conspiracy theories flood social media after Trump rally shooting". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  33. ^ Chapman, Casey Tolan, Danny Freeman, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Curt Devine, Isabelle (July 14, 2024). "What we know about the Trump rally gunman so far". CNN. Retrieved July 15, 2024. So far, investigators haven't found any evidence on social media or other writings by Crooks that might help identify his motive for the attempted assassination, law enforcement officials say... And a review of public records suggests he may have had divergent political leanings, with Crooks registering to vote as a Republican but making a small donation to a Democratic-leaning group.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Josefczyk, Aaron; Ward, Jasper; Singh, Kanishka (July 14, 2024). "Trump's shooter was a registered Republican, had donated to a Democratic PAC". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  35. ^ "FBI Identifies Thomas Matthew Crooks as 'Subject Involved' in Trump Rally Shooting". US News & World Report. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
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