A peaceful rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, turned into chaos when Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
Talking to Fox News Digital, a teacher revealed that Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crook was a thoughtful, polite, and hardworking student in college.
Two months before the attack, Thomas Matthew Crooks graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County with an associate's degree in engineering. His next academic step was to attend Robert Morris University.
Described as an exceptional and thoughtful student, Crooks made significant contributions during his college years. His former teacher noted, "He went above and beyond as a student." Crooks also engaged in inventiveness; he designed a 3D-printed chess set for blind players, incorporating Braille into the design after consulting experts in the field.
A staff member from the Community College expressed their disbelief: "It's just very, very, very unexpected." Crooks' behavior in the educational setting had never hinted at what was to come.
Regarding his personal life, Crooks was known as a quiet, reserved individual who had experienced bullying in high school. Despite these challenges, he found solace in hobbies such as building computers and gaming.
Crooks held a job as a dietary aide at a local nursing home where he performed his duties without any incident. He was described by his school counselor, Jim Knapp, as someone who "was content by himself." This depiction aligns with Crooks' societal interaction; he kept to a small circle of friends and mostly remained solitary throughout his school years.
Reflecting on the complexity of his character, his classmate Max Rich shared, "He had his friend group and that's all he talked to. I was just shocked. I didn't think something like that could happen to someone I knew." This sentiment captures the community's astonishment at the brutal act Crooks committed.
Investigators are still in the process of determining the motive behind Thomas Matthew Crooks' drastic actions at the rally. The political affiliations within his family are varied, with his father registered as a Libertarian, his mother a Democrat, and Crooks himself a registered Republican. None of these details have yet provided clear reasons for his actions.
Samuel Strotman, a class plant, mentioned Crooks' extreme reserve at school: "[He was] all but mute during lectures and had his camera turned off." This characteristic aloofness extends the mystery surrounding his intentions and psychological state before the incident.
The shocking attempt on the former president's life has left many puzzled, particularly those who knew Crookes as a quiet and intelligent individual.
As the investigation continues, authorities, acquaintances, and the media are piecing together the complex puzzle of Crooks' life, searching for explanations where there presently seem to be none.
In conclusion, the devastation of the rally, the academic prowess exhibited by Crooks, and the unanswered questions about his final actions paint a complex picture of a young man whose life took a tragically violent turn. All eyes are now on the ongoing investigation, hoping for answers to this bewildering act of violence.
