It’s been a few days since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and the man behind the shooting is still a mystery.
Thomas Crooks has been described as a loner, bullied as a teenager, and rejected by the high school rifle team.
Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, who at 20, tried to take down one of the most powerful people in American politics?
Family Matters
Crooks’ parents, Mary Elizabeth Crooks and Matthew Brian Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, are licensed professional counselors through the Pennsylvania social work board, per Fox News.
Both of their licenses expire in February 2025. the two have been professional counselors since 2002.
Crooks lived with his parents in Crooks lived in the small Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, CNN reported.
Bethel Parks is about an hour away from Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of the assassination attempt.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.
High School Years
Crooks was described by fellow classmates at Bethel Park High as a quiet, good student, but also somewhat of a misfit, per CNN.
Jason Kohler, 21, told CNN Crooks had “no facial expression” when he walked through the school hallways.
“He wasn’t, like, with the clique, so he always had, I guess, a target on his back,” he said.
Jameson Myers graduated with Crooks and was a member of the rifle team, a former member of the Bethel Park High School varsity rifle team — a team Crooks wanted to join.
Myers told CBS News that Crooks never made the team.
“He did not even make the junior varsity team after trying out,” Myers said. “He never returned to try-outs for the remainder of high school.”
Frederick Mach, a current captain of the team, told ABC News Crooks didn’t make the team because he was a bad shooter.
Life After Graduation
Crooks worked at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in food preparation
Marcie Grimm, the nursing home administrator, said in a statement she was “shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement.”
Grimm said Crooks passed the background check when he was hired, ABC News reported.
The Community College of Allegheny confirmed to the BBC that Crooks attended the school between September 2021 and May 2024.
He graduated with honors with an associate degree in engineering science.
The University of Pittsburgh also told the BBC that Crooks was accepted as a transfer student for the fall 2024 semester, but decided not to attend.
He was expected to enroll in Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh in the fall, CBS News reported.
Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in Clairton, Pennsylvania.
Bill Sellitto, the club president, confirmed to CBS News that Crooks was a member on Sunday.
“We can confirm that Mr. Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club. Beyond that, the club is unable to make any additional commentary in relation to this matter in light of pending law enforcement investigations,” Sellitto said. “Obviously, the Club fully admonishes the senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday.”
Politics
According to Pennsylvania voter records, Crooks was a registered Republican, per the BBC.
Federal Election Commission records show Thomas Crooks gave $15 to Progressive Turnout Project, a Democratic-aligned political action committee.
The donation was made on Inauguration Day in January 2021.
Crooks was 17 at the time of the donation.
Crooks was set to vote in his first presidential election in November, CNN reported.
Motivation
The gun used in the shooting was a legally purchased AR-style weapon, Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, confirmed, per CNN.
Law enforcement officials were able to trace the gun to Crooks’ father.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News the gun was legally purchased in 2013 and was registered to Matthew Crooks.
This helped in identifying Crooks because he was not carrying identification.
Authorities say that Crooks purchased a box of ammunition containing 50 rounds on Saturday, CBS reported.
The FBI said it believes Crooks acted alone, per ABC News.
Crooks had bomb-making materials in his car.
No threatening comments on social media accounts or ideological positions have been found.
CBS News reported FBI officials told reporters Sunday afternoon that there was no indication of Crooks having mental health issues.
“The FBI said they were investigating it as a potential act of domestic terrorism, but the absence of a clear ideological motive by the man shot dead by the Secret Service led conspiracy theories to flourish,” ABC News reported.
Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, said to CNN Saturday night he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on.”
