The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, as the suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Crooks was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after allegedly firing shots toward the stage where Trump was speaking.
The attack occurred on Saturday, just days before the Republican convention. Trump, who was delivering his speech, was grazed by a bullet that “pierced the upper part” of his right ear. The former president quickly took to social media to confirm his safety and to offer condolences to the family of a rally attendee who was fatally shot by Crooks.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, who lived about an hour away from the rally location, graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he had received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative. A video from his graduation ceremony, cited by The New York Times, shows Crooks receiving his diploma to applause, wearing glasses and a black gown, and posing with a school official.
State voter records reveal that Crooks was a registered Republican, and the upcoming November 5 election would have been his first opportunity to vote in a presidential race. Interestingly, at age 17, he made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a political action committee supporting left-leaning and Democratic candidates. This donation was earmarked for the Progressive Turnout Project, a group dedicated to rallying Democratic voters.
On the day of the rally, TMZ published a video showing Crooks on a rooftop with a rifle, carefully aiming before firing. Trump had just begun his speech when the shots were fired. He instinctively grabbed his ear, dropped to his knees behind the podium, and was swiftly covered by Secret Service agents. He emerged moments later, his red “Make America Great Again” hat knocked off, and was quickly escorted to a waiting SUV.
The FBI is currently investigating Crooks’s motives. “We’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation,” stated Kevin Rojek, the FBI special agent in charge.
Crooks’s father, Matthew Crooks, expressed his confusion and is awaiting further information from law enforcement before commenting on his son’s actions. Meanwhile, law enforcement has heavily secured Crooks’s residence, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and a bomb squad present. The Federal Aviation Administration has also restricted airspace over Bethel Park for security reasons.
As the investigation continues, the incident has raised numerous questions about Crooks’s motives and how he planned and executed the attack. The FBI is working diligently to piece together the details surrounding this alarming event.