Trump Rally Shooter Was 'Lonely', 'Bullied' Math Whiz In School: All About FBI's Suspect Thomas Crooks
Crooks, who graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, received a USD 500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative
The 20-year-old Pennsylvania resident, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected shooter who tried to assassinate former president Donald Trump at a campaign rally this weekend, was a 'quiet' and 'lonely' Math wizard who received a USD 500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.
Crooks was killed by Secret Service snipers on Saturday, seconds after he allegedly fired multiple shots toward a stage where Trump was speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania, from a nearby rooftop. The FBI said it was working to determine a motive for the attack, in which one rally attendee died and two other spectators were critically injured. Trump was also shot in the ear.
Crooks Political Leaning Not Clear
Citing state voter records, Reuters reported that Crooks was a registered Republican. The upcoming November 5 election would have been the first time he would have been old enough to vote in a presidential race.
The suspect lived in Bethel Park, about an hour away from where the shooting took place in Butler. When he was 17, Crooks made a USD 15 donation to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises money for left-leaning and Democratic politicians, Reuters reported citing a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing.
The shooter was believed to be working alone, according to the FBI, and officials said they have not identified an ideology associated with him. His political leanings were not instantly clear.
While social media platform Discord said it had identified an account that appeared linked to the suspect, this was "rarely utilized."
A spokesperson added that "we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views."
Math Whiz
Crooks, who graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, received a USD 500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The New York Times posted a video of Crooks's graduation ceremony in 2022, where he can be seen receiving his high school diploma to some applause. In the video, Crooks can be seen wearing glasses in a black graduation gown and posing with a school official.
'Quiet Kid'
His former schoolmates described Crooks as a "quiet" student who often came across as "lonely," ABC News reported. Jason Kohler, who said he attended the same high school as Crooks, told ABC that Crooks seemed "socially reserved" and was often "bullied".
"He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much," Kohler said adding that Crooks had been made fun of for the way he dressed, noting that he would sometimes wear hunting outfits.
No military ties
Following the shooting, investigators found a "suspicious device" in Crooks' car, which was inspected by bomb technicians and is being analysed, according to a report by AFP. The explosive device has been seized and authorities are now in the process of searching Crooks' phone.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, told reporters Sunday that the gun used in the shooting was an AR-style semiautomatic rifle which was purchased legally. Investigators believe the weapon used was purchased by Crooks' father, but it was unclear how he accessed the weapon.
Rojek added that there were no indications so far of any mental health issues. The FBI told reporters that they are investigating the incident as an assassination attempt and also potential domestic terrorism act.
Crooks also did not have military affiliations, according to Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.
Meanwhile, the suspect's father Matthew Crooks told CNN that he was trying to establish "what the hell is going on" before speaking about his son.
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