Thomas Matthew Crooks

Thomas Matthew Crooks (September 20, 2003 – July 13, 2024) was an American who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election. On July 13, 2024, at a political rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks shot at Trump with a rifle from a nearby rooftop while Trump was giving a speech, injuring Trump and two attendees, and killing another. He was subsequently killed by the Secret Service Counter Assault Team. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is underway, and his motivation remains unknown.

Early life and education

Thomas Matthew Crooks was born on September 20, 2003,[1] in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[2] The neighborhood he lived in was described as "middle-class, maybe upper-middle class".[3] Both of his parents worked as licensed social workers.[4][5]

Crooks attended Bethel Park High School, where he was known as an above-average student, and graduated in 2022.[6][5] Classmates and school officials characterized him as quiet, with classmates claiming he was often bullied,[7][5][8] including for his quiet demeanor, or wearing camouflage hunting outfits and masks to school.[9][7] Crooks enjoyed playing chess and video games, and was learning how to code.[10] He received a $500 "star award" the same year from the National Math and Science Initiative.[11][5] In high school, Crooks tried out for his school's rifle team, but did not make the team due to poor aim during tryouts.[12][13] He briefly appeared in a 2023 advertisement for BlackRock, an investment firm, that was filmed at his high school. After the shooting, BlackRock stated that the advertisement would be removed from circulation.[14][15]

Crooks received an associate degree in engineering science from 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.[10][13][3] He had no known criminal record,[1][16] and the Pentagon found that he had no history of military service.[17] However, a former classmate said that Crooks was previously interested in military service as a means to access a college education.[18]

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

On July 14, the FBI identified Crooks as the shooter behind the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.[19] Crooks shot Trump in the upper right ear at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.[20] He also shot three adult male audience members,[21] killing 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and critically injuring two others.[22] The rifle used by Crooks had been legally purchased by his father, according to law enforcement sources.[23]

Crooks was killed by a rifleman from the United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team seconds after he began firing.[11][13][24][25][26] Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home.[17] Photos of Crooks's body showed him wearing a shirt that appeared to be merchandise from a YouTube channel popularizing firearms and gun culture.[16][27][13][12][28]

An investigation by the FBI is underway, and his motivation remains unknown.[29]

Political activities

Crooks was a registered Republican,[1][8][30][11] and his voter registration was active since September 2021, the month he turned 18.[1] Officials say he had only voted in the 2022 midterm elections.[4]

On January 20, 2021, at the age of 17, he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a leftist voter turnout group, through the Democratic Party donation platform ActBlue.[6][13][11][31] His donation was made the same day President Joe Biden was sworn into office.[5] 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.[4] One high school classmate recalled that Crooks advocated conservative views during discussions and debates about policies and wondered "why he would carry out an assassination attempt on the conservative candidate".[32]

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Matthew_Crooks