Authorities reported that the individual who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally was affiliated with a local gun club and employed as a dietary aide at a nursing home. The shooter, identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot by at least one Secret Service sniper, according to officials.
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Thomas Matthew Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022
Bethel Park, an affluent, predominantly white suburb of Pittsburgh, was home to Thomas Matthew Crooks. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and received the National Math & Science Initiative Star Award. Classmate Jason Kohler, 21, described Crooks as a bullied “loner” who often wore hunting gear and sat alone at lunch.
Michael Dudjak, 20, remembered him as quiet and reserved, noting that Crooks was frequently by himself and not outspoken about politics. Dudjak and his friends were shocked to learn that Crooks was the shooter, finding it terrifying that someone they knew could commit such a horrific act.
He was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in Pittsburgh
Thomas Matthew Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in Pittsburgh, a facility featuring a variety of shooting ranges, including a 200-yard rifle range, pistol ranges, and indoor and outdoor archery ranges.
“We’re devastated by this,” said club president Bill Sellitto. “It’s a dreadful event.”
In an official statement, the club expressed its condemnation of the “senseless act of violence” that took place on Saturday and extended “heartfelt condolences to the Comperatore family,” along with prayers for all those injured, including the former President.
The Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where Crooks was employed as a dietary aide, issued a statement noting that “his background check was clean” and that he “performed his duties without any issues.”
“We are shocked and saddened by his involvement,” Marcie Grimm, an administrator at the center, said in a statement on Sunday. She added that the center cooperates with law enforcement and could not provide further comments.
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What happened to the former President Donald Trump?
Former President Donald Trump was injured Saturday evening while speaking onstage at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was mid-speech, facing to the right with his hands on the podium when the sound of multiple gunshots suddenly rang out at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET.
Later on social media, he confirmed he was shot in the ear. Trump grabbed his right ear and dropped to the ground as Secret Service agents instructed him to get down and rushed to the stage, shielding the former president while several more gunshots echoed through the venue.
The victims
Governor Josh Shapiro identified the deceased rally attendee as Corey Comperatore, 50, from Sarver, Pennsylvania. Comparator, a father of two, worked at a plastic manufacturing company and volunteered as a firefighter. He was fatally shot in the head while protecting his family, according to the governor.
The critically injured were identified by the Pennsylvania State Police as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township. Both men were in critical but stable condition at Allegheny General Hospital, as reported by spokesman Dan Laurent.
David Dutch, a longtime Trump supporter and Marine Corps veteran, works at Siemens. His sister, Jennifer Veri-Grazier, stated that he suffered liver and rib damage and was awaiting further surgery.
James Copenhaver, a retired registered Democrat, was described by Moon Township supervisor Albert Quaye as married with at least one son.
Thomas Matthew Crooks Video Shows Joking About P*nis Size
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter who attempted but failed to assassinate Donald Trump, had a raunchy sense of humor, as revealed in a newly obtained video by TMZ. In the clip, Crooks jokingly brags about his penis size and falsely claims to be a 6’4” Stanford student, though he was just a 10th grader at the time.
The video, recorded in February 2020 during a computer tech class, shows a sociable and talented student known for his exceptional skills in computer technology. Despite his friendly demeanor in school, Crooks shocked many with his actions at the Trump rally, where he wounded the former president and killed one person before being fatally shot by Secret Service snipers.
Thomas Matthew Crooks’ School Bullying Revealed in New Video
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, was revealed as a loner who was bullied in school. Newly surfaced video footage shows him being harassed by a fellow student a few years ago. In the video, Crooks is seen at his desk while another student tugs on his pant leg, attempting to pull him out of his seat, with a voice off-camera repeatedly saying “stop.”
Reports indicate that Crooks was an outcast who faced frequent bullying, and he also tried to join his school’s rifle team but was rejected due to poor shooting skills. As investigators delve deeper into his background, they are working to understand the factors that led Crooks to his drastic actions.
Reactions and Security Concerns
World leaders and U.S. officials, both Republican and Democrat, condemned the shooting as an attack on democracy. President Biden, in a televised address, called for lowering political tensions. Former President Obama urged a recommitment to civility, while Senator Mitch McConnell expressed relief that Trump was safe after the attack.
Security questions arose as the shooter managed to open fire near Trump. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability will investigate, with Chairman James R. Comer asking Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify on July 22.
