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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)
Butler Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
EducationCommunity 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 the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election, and killed one person and injured three others.[1][2]

On July 13, 2024, at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks shot at Trump with an AR-15–style rifle from a nearby rooftop while Trump was giving a speech. He hit Trump's ear and killed one attendee, while critically injuring two others. Crooks was killed almost immediately after his shots by the Secret Service Counter Assault Team. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is underway.

Early life and education

Thomas Matthew Crooks was born on September 20, 2003,[1] and was raised in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[3] The neighborhood he lived in was described by a local politician as "middle-class, maybe upper-middle class".[4] Both of his parents worked as licensed professional counselors.[5] Recollections about Crooks, including information about his life and personality, vary considerably.[6]

He attended Bethel Park High School, where he was known as an above-average student. In 2022, he graduated with high honors and won a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.[7][8][9] Classmates and school officials characterized him as quiet, with classmates saying he was often bullied for various reasons,[2][8][1] including his quiet demeanor, body odor and for wearing camouflage hunting outfits and surgical masks to school.[1][10][11] Crooks enjoyed playing chess and video games, and he was learning how to program computers.[12][8][13]

Crooks appeared briefly in a 30-second BlackRock advertisement that first aired in 2022, featuring a teacher from Bethel Park High School and several students in the background. BlackRock removed the ad from circulation "out of respect for the victims" of the July 13 assassination attempt.[14]

Some students and graduates from Bethel Park High School alleged that Crooks tried out for his school's rifle team, but he failed the tryout because of poor aim. The Bethel Park School District said there is no record of Crooks trying out for the team.[15][16]

Crooks earned 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.[4][12][16][17] According to the nursing home, he had passed a background check and "performed his job without concern".[18]

He had been accepted into both the University of Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University and planned to attend the latter.[18][19]

He had no known criminal record,[1][20] and no known mental health problems.[5] A search of Crooks's cellphone found that he had typed "major depressive disorder" at some point in time.[21] The U.S. Department of Defense found that he had no history of military service.[22] However, a former classmate said that Crooks was previously interested in military service to finance his college education.[23] He had a membership at a local shooting club for at least a year.[24]

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

On July 12, 2024, Crooks went to the shooting range where he was a member to practice firing.[25] He purchased over 50 rounds of ammunition and a ladder before going to the rally on July 13.[26]

On July 14, the FBI identified Crooks as the shooter behind the attempted assassination of Donald Trump the previous day.[27] He had climbed atop a building that was being used by police as a staging area.[28] Crooks shot Trump and injured his upper right ear,[29] and also injured three adult male audience members,[30] killing 50-year-old Corey Comperatore.[31] He used an AR-15–style rifle that his father had bought legally.[32]

Crooks was killed by a member of the Secret Service Counter Assault Team after he began firing.[33] Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home.[22] As of July 2024, an investigation by the FBI is underway and his motivation remains unknown.[34] Misinformation and conspiracy theories about Crooks have proliferated.[35]

Political activities

United States Federal Election Commission receipts showing the donation from Crooks to ActBlue

Authorities have stated that his political views are unknown, and they have not determined whether his assassination attempt was politically motivated.[6] Public records do not indicate his views. No posts by Crooks on social media or writings indicating his ideology have been found.[36]

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.[9][13][16][37] His donation was made the same day that President Biden was sworn into office.[8] According to the Progressive Turnout Project, he made the donation in response to an e-mail about "tuning into" the inauguration; he was unsubscribed from the group's mailing list in 2022.[36]

Crooks had been registered to vote since September 2021, the month he turned 18.[1] He registered as a Republican.[1][2][13][38] He had voted only once, in the 2022 midterm elections.[36]

Prior to the shooting, Crooks had searched for images and public appearances of both Trump and Joe Biden, as well as Attorney General Merrick Garland and F.B.I. Director Christopher A. Wray.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b de Guzman, Chad (July 15, 2024). "What We Know—and Don't Know—So Far About the Trump Rally Gunman". Time. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Vargas, Ramon Antonio (July 15, 2024). "Former classmate describes Trump rally gunman as 'definitely conservative'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024. Recollections about Crooks' political views and high school experience vary considerably.
  7. ^ "Awards and Recognition Program honors Bethel Park graduates". Tribune-Review. June 22, 2022. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  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. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ 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. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  13. ^ 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
  14. ^ Valinsky, Jordan (July 15, 2024). "BlackRock pulls commercial that included Trump rally shooter". CNN. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Suspected Trump shooter graduated from community college with 'high honors'". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Thomas, Pierre; Rubin, Olivia; Charalambous, Peter; Barr, Luke; Date, Jack (July 16, 2024). "'Loner' and 'nice': Complex portrait of gunman in Trump assassination attempt emerges". ABC News. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Gunman planned to attend local 4-year university this fall". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ a b Fahrenthold, David A.; Thrush, Glenn; Robertson, Campbell; Goldman, Adam; Toler, Aric (July 18, 2024). "A Blind Spot and a Lost Trail: How the Gunman Got So Close to Trump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Morrison, Oliver (July 14, 2024). "Alleged Trump shooter: Smart, quiet, say Bethel Park community members". WESA. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about Donald Trump's attacker". BBC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  25. ^ Miller, John; Tolan, Casey; Perez, Evan (July 15, 2024). "A shooting range, a gun store, and a ladder purchase: Tracking the Trump rally gunman's movements leading up to his attack". CNN.
  26. ^ "New details emerge in Trump assassination attempt investigation". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  27. ^ "Thomas Matthew Crooks identified as Trump shooter". United Press International. July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  28. ^ New video shows Trump shooter climbing onto the roof at rally. ABC News. July 15, 2024. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ Tanyos, Faris (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter killed by Secret Service sniper, officials say". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (July 15, 2024). "'BlueAnon' conspiracy theories flood social media after Trump rally shooting". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  36. ^ a b c Tolan, Casey; Freeman, Danny; de Puy Kamp, Majlie; Devine, Curt; Chapman, Isabelle (July 14, 2024). "What we know about the Trump rally gunman so far". CNN. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. 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.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ "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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