As the hours pass, more details emerge about the man who attempted to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified him as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old with no criminal record.
According to Pennsylvania's voter database, Crooks was registered as a Republican. The November presidential election would have been the first in which he could have voted. Records from the Federal Election Commission show that in January 2021, at the age of 17, he donated $15 to a Democrat-aligned political action committee called Progressive Turnout Project.
Crooks hails from Bethel Park, a town about an hour's drive from Butler, where the rally was held. He attended Bethel Park High School, which has around 1,400 students, and graduated in 2022. That year, he received a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative, according to Pennsylvania's The Tribune-Review.
A video from his graduation ceremony circulating online shows Crooks as a slender young man wearing glasses and the traditional black graduation gown. He walked across the stage to applause after his name was called, posed briefly with a school official, and received his diploma.
After learning he was the perpetrator of the attack, law enforcement authorities cordoned off the streets surrounding his family's home in a relatively affluent suburb. Dan Grzybek, a local county council representative, told the New York Times that the neighborhood where Crooks grew up is "quite solidly middle class, maybe upper-middle class." Grzybek met with Crooks' parents last year while campaigning and recalls them as pleasant people.
Grzybek, who lives half a mile from the street, noted that the usually tranquil area is now in shock and has become a focal point for journalists and onlookers. "Most people can't believe this happened in our neighborhood. The number of people I've seen walking down our street, driving by, and stopping to take videos and photos is pretty astonishing," he said.
Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump from the rooftop of a nearby building, outside the rally's security perimeter. He fired multiple shots, one of which struck the former president in the right ear. An attendee was also killed, and two others remain in critical condition. The twenty-year-old was shot dead by Secret Service agents at the scene. A semi-automatic AR-15 rifle was found near his body.
Upon examining his body, FBI agents discovered that he carried no identification, necessitating an analysis of his DNA and biometric confirmation, said Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office. In a statement, the FBI said it is working to determine the motive behind the attack.
Former agency officials revealed that the behavioral analysis unit will attempt to develop a profile to understand why Crooks decided to take such action. They will interview friends and family and trace his online interactions. Meanwhile, Matthew Crooks, 53, the attacker's father, told CNN that he was just trying to figure out "what the hell is going on" and would wait to speak with the police before commenting on his son.
Insights into Thomas Matthew Crooks and the Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump by Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks?
Thomas Matthew Crooks was a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, with no prior criminal record. He was registered as a Republican voter and had recently graduated from Bethel Park High School.
What was the motive behind the assassination attempt?
The FBI is currently investigating the motive behind the attack. Behavioral analysis experts will profile Crooks to understand why he decided to take such drastic action.
How did the authorities identify Crooks?
Crooks had no identification on him at the time of the attack. The FBI used DNA analysis and biometric confirmation to identify him.
What was the public reaction in Crooks' neighborhood?
The usually quiet neighborhood is in shock, with residents and onlookers flooding the area to take videos and photos. Local representative Dan Grzybek noted the general disbelief among residents.