Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, was a resident of Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He lived with his mother and attended Bethel Park High School, where he was described as an isolated student who excelled in math but struggled socially. Reports from former classmates paint a picture of a young man who was frequently bullied, with some peers recalling that he was a quiet individual often targeted for ridicule.
After high school, Crooks worked in the kitchens of a nursing home, a job that provided little insight into any potential extremist leanings or violent tendencies. His minimal online presence has made it difficult for investigators to uncover a digital trail that might explain his actions.
Crooks’s neighbors and acquaintances are puzzled by his transformation into a would-be assassin. Alex Williams, a former schoolmate, noted that their generation had been deeply affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, which intensified political divisions and increased online radicalization. This, combined with a polarized political environment, may have influenced Crooks’s extreme actions.
At the time of the attack, Crooks was armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a weapon he had trained with at the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, where he was a member. The club’s general counsel confirmed his membership but declined to provide details about his training due to the ongoing FBI investigation. On the day of the shooting, Crooks had purchased 50 rounds of ammunition from Allegheny Arms and Gun Works in Bethel Park, adding to the 50 rounds he had bought earlier that morning.
The FBI’s investigation revealed that Crooks had also been in possession of explosives, including what appeared to be grenades, found in his car. This discovery prompted the involvement of the Allegheny County bomb squad. Despite these alarming findings, the FBI has found no evidence of co-conspirators or immediate public safety threats.
Crooks’s attempt on Trump’s life occurred while Trump was addressing a crowd at the Big Butler Fairgrounds. The shooter managed to fire multiple shots from a distance of approximately 130 yards, striking Trump in the ear and causing injuries to three other individuals, one of whom died. The swift response from Secret Service agents resulted in Crooks being fatally shot.
In the wake of the incident, the community of Bethel Park is grappling with the shock and horror of Crooks’s actions. Neighbor Steve Riviere expressed a common sentiment, hoping for a return to civil discourse and an end to politically motivated violence. The broader American public remains on edge as the political climate grows increasingly fraught with fears of further unrest.