Information about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter who tried to kill former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, continues to surface.
Crooks was killed by the Secret Service shortly after he fired several shots from an elevated position that nicked Trump’s ear, killed 50-year-old rally attendee Corey Comperatore, and seriously wounded two other bystanders.
Findings from the scene of the shooting indicate that Crooks used a semiautomatic rifle. Investigators are reportedly working to determine whether the weapon belonged to his father and was purchased legally, according to NBC News.
At the time of the shooting, Crooks was reportedly wearing a t-shirt with the logo for Demolition Ranch, a popular YouTube channel featuring a variety of weapons displayed by host Matt Carriker, The Associated Press reported.
Carriker posts videos for his more than 11 million followers that show him firing handguns and assault rifles at different targets, which sometimes include mannequins and vehicles.
Crooks was a resident of Bethel Park, roughly one hour away from where the rally was held in Butler County, according to Reuters.
He was a registered Republican who would have been voting in his first presidential election in November. However, filings from the Federal Election Commission state that he made a $15 donation to the left-leaning political action committee ActBlue years earlier.
Public court records show no history of a criminal record or past charges brought against Crooks, according to AP.
A story by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review states that Crooks was one of multiple students awarded a National Math & Science Initiative Star Award when he was a senior at Bethel Park High School in 2022.
Jason Kohler, a former high school classmate of Crooks, described him as a “loner” and said that he was “bullied so much in high school.”
“He would sit alone at lunch. He was just the outcast,” Kohler explained, per NBC News. “It’s honestly kind of sad.”
Kohler later said he had no recollection of Crooks expressing his political views or being very active on social media.
While Crooks reportedly has little social media presence, and the instant messaging platform Discord said he had an infrequently used account.
“We have identified an account that appears to be linked to the suspect; it was rarely utilized, and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident or discuss his political views,” said the company in a statement, according to CNN cybersecurity reporter Sean Lyngaas.
Members of Crooks’ family have remained quiet about the incident. His father, Matthew Crooks, said he has been trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” and that he has chosen to “talk to law enforcement” before issuing any official statements, as reported by CNN.
A possible motive for the shooting has not yet been made public. However, the FBI has reportedly gained access to Crooks’ phone and gleaned some insight into what may have motivated him to try to kill Trump.
President Joe Biden made an appearance on Sunday to condemn the act of violence.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said, per Reuters. “I urge everyone, everyone, please don’t make assumptions about his motive or affiliations.”
Despite the attempt on his life, Trump said he remains steadfast in his commitment to the country. Trump will be attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this week, where he will become the party’s official nominee for the presidential election in November.
“We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
“We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” Trump posted.
