According to Forbes.com, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who failed to join his high school rifle team, is now the subject of an FBI investigation after the attack on Trump.
Crooks, 20, was described by a classmate, Jameson Murphy, as a "comically bad shot" who missed targets by nearly 20 feet during rifle team tryouts at Bethel Park High School. Another unnamed classmate noted that the rifle team coach had concerns about Crooks, citing his inappropriate jokes in a setting involving firearms.
Crooks was identified using DNA and biometric information. He was found on the roof of a building near the rally before the shooting, pointing his rifle at an officer who retreated moments before Secret Service agents intervened. The AR-style rifle used in the attack was purchased legally, according to the FBI. The agency is still piecing together Crooks' actions and any potential connections to other individuals or groups.
The FBI identified Crooks as the shooter early Sunday morning, investigating the incident as a potential case of domestic terrorism. Crooks was shot and killed by the Secret Service after he fired shots at a Trump campaign event from a nearby building in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Special Agent Kevin Rojek informed reporters that Crooks acted alone, although the FBI is still investigating to confirm there were no co-conspirators. Suspicious devices were found and safely neutralized at Crooks' home and vehicle, now being evaluated at the FBI Laboratory.
Law enforcement officials said Crooks was not previously on the FBI's radar, and no identified ideology was linked to him. Crooks was employed as a dietary aide and had a clean background check.
During the rally, Trump was ushered offstage by Secret Service agents after shots were fired, with blood visible on his right ear. Trump later confirmed he was struck by a bullet that pierced the upper part of his ear. The shots were fired from several hundred feet away, according to local District Attorney Richard Goldinger.
President Joe Biden condemned the attack and expressed his relief that Trump was safe. The rally attendee killed was identified as Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, with two others seriously injured.
"We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness," Trump posted on Truth Social following the incident.
Thomas Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and was one of 20 students to win the National Math & Science Initiative Star Awards. Despite being a registered Republican, he had previously donated to a Democratic campaign, raising questions about his political motivations.
Classmates had mixed accounts of Crooks' high school experience. Jason Kohler described him as an outcast who was bullied, while Mark Sigafoos, another student, found him kind and nerdy, not as harshly bullied as claimed. Max Smith noted Crooks' conservative leanings, puzzled by his attack on a conservative candidate.
Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, declined to speak publicly until more details were clarified with law enforcement. The FBI's investigation continues, focusing on Crooks' background and possible motives.
The tragic event at Trump's rally has raised numerous questions about Thomas Crooks' background and motivations. The FBI continues to investigate while the community and nation process the implications of this attack on a former president. The mixed accounts from Crooks' past highlight the challenges in fully understanding the factors leading to this incident.
