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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
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 2024(2024-07-13) (aged 20)
Meridian, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
EducationBethel 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 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]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c Devine, Danny Freeman, Holmes Lybrand, Casey Tolan, Majlie de Puy Kamp, 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b c d 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
  12. ^ a b 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.
  13. ^ a b c d e 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.
  14. ^ Victoria Cavaliere, Bloomberg (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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Morrison, Oliver (July 14, 2024). "Alleged Trump shooter: Smart, quiet, say Bethel Park community members". WESA.
  19. ^ "Thomas Matthew Crooks identified as Trump shooter". United Press International. July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ Chowdhury, Tori B. Powell, Shania Shelton, Matt Meyer, Isabelle D'Antonio, Emma Tucker, Jessie Yeung, Dalia Faheid, Amarachi Orie, Michelle Shen, Michael Williams, Maureen (July 13, 2024). "Live updates: Trump survives assassination attempt". CNN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ Watson, Kathryn (July 14, 2024). "Trump says bullet "pierced the upper part of my right ear" when shots were fired at Pennsylvania rally". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Layne, Nathan; Mcdermid, Brendan; Mason, Jeff (July 14, 2024). "Trump survives assassination attempt at campaign rally after major security lapse". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  26. ^ Davies, Emily; Barrett, Devlin; Hilton, Jasmine; Stein, Perry (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter appears to have acted alone, FBI says". Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  27. ^ "Trump rally shooting: Ex-president injured in assassination attempt at rally that leaves spectator and gunman dead". Sky News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  28. ^ Marsden, Emma (July 14, 2024). ""Demolition Ranch" owner responds to Thomas Matthew Crooks shooting Trump". Newsweek. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "FBI probing motives, background of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the Western Pa. gunman behind Donald Trump assassination attempt". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
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