Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about the Trump attacker

 

Thomas Matthew Crooks is the man who shot at former US President Donald Trump during a campaign rally. Here’s what we know about him:

1. Identity and Background:

   • Crooks, a 20-year-old nursing-home employee from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was identified as the attacker.
   • He allegedly opened fire while Trump was addressing a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, leaving one audience member dead and two others critically wounded.
   • Crooks was shot dead at the scene by a Secret Service sniper.
   • Neighbors in his quiet hometown of Bethel Park are in shock, struggling to understand how a seemingly quiet young man could be involved in the shooting.

2. Education and Political Affiliation:

   • Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, where he received a $500 prize for math and science.
   • State voter records show that he was a registered Republican.
   • He also donated $15 to the liberal campaign group ActBlue in 2021.
   • Crooks had not been carrying ID, so investigators used DNA to identify him.

3. Weapon and Motive:

   • The weapon used to shoot at Trump was believed to have been purchased by Crooks’ father.
   • Suspicious devices were found in Crooks’ vehicle after the shooting.
   • Investigators are still probing his motive.

The incident shattered the nation’s illusion of security, and authorities continue to investigate the details surrounding the attack.