As the nation remains gripped by the aftermath of an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump, the background of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, has sparked questions about his motive.
The morning of the shooting began with a chilling revelation: hours before the assassination attempt, Crooks’ parents contacted local law enforcement, expressing concern over their son’s whereabouts, as The Dallas Express covered. Sources informed Fox News that despite their call to alert the police, it remains unclear what actions, if any, authorities took in response to the parents’ call for help.
According to recent reports, Crooks had taken a trip to Home Depot before the attack, purchasing a ladder. This week, investigators have been examining whether the ladder was used to access the building’s roof where he fired at Trump, according to Fox.
Law enforcement agents also found numerous firearms at the Crooks family home, including a missing AR rifle believed to have been used in the attack. The ongoing investigation into Crooks’ decisions prior to the shooting also focuses on whether the bullets he used during the assassination attempt were bought locally.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the shooter, armed with a rifle apparently belonging to his father, attempted to kill Donald Trump on July 13 at a rally in Pennsylvania, injuring Trump and killing Corey Comperatore, an attendee, and seriously injuring two other spectators.
Crooks was quickly neutralized by Secret Service agents at the scene, finding the shooter on a rooftop near the stage where Trump spoke.
As investigators delve further into Crooks’ life, details have emerged that paint a complex picture of the 20-year-old. A 2022 Bethel Park High School graduate, Crooks pursued higher education at Allegheny County Community College, earning an associate degree in engineering science just months before the incident, per Fox.
Reports indicate he had plans to attend Robert Morris University but had not enrolled.
Investigations into Crooks’ communications, including a search of the shooter’s phone, have been conducted. However, authorities have yet to disclose any findings regarding a potential motive for the attack, as detailed in previous reporting from The Dallas Express.
Crooks’ former classmates have told various media outlets that he was constantly bullied during school. This topic has become muddled by the fact that a previous school counselor said he was never teased or ridiculed consistently.
“Kids weren’t calling him names, kids weren’t bullying him. Anybody could snap, anybody could have issues. Something triggered that young man and drove him to drive up to Butler yesterday and do what he did,” said guidance counselor Jim Knapp.