The small Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is grappling with shock and disbelief after the FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the individual who shot at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally. Here’s what we’ve learned about Crooks:
The Shooting Incident:
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- Armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire while Trump addressed a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- One audience member was killed, and two others were wounded.
- A Secret Service sniper shot Crooks dead at the scene.
Background and Education of Thomas Matthew Crooks:
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- Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, receiving a $500 prize for math and science.
- He attended the Community College of Allegheny (CCAC) from September 2021 to May 2024, earning an associate degree in engineering science.
- In February, he was accepted as a transfer student at the University of Pittsburgh for the fall 2024 semester but chose not to attend.
Political Affiliation of Thomas Matthew Crooks:
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- State voter records show that Crooks was a registered Republican.
- He also donated $15 to the liberal campaign group ActBlue in 2021.
Shooting Club Membership:
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- Thomas Matthew Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a premier shooting facility in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
While investigations continue, the community remains stunned by the actions of this seemingly quiet young man. The incident has left many questioning how someone with no apparent history of violence could carry out such an attack. As authorities delve deeper into Crooks’ motivations, the nation grapples with the aftermath of this failed assassination attempt on a former president3.
