SUSPECT IN THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, a young local guy who stunned the country by shooting at Donald Trump during a campaign rally, the little Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park in Pennsylvania is in crisis.
Equipped with an AR-style rifle, Crooks allegedly opened fire at the former president when he was speaking to a gathering in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one audience member and seriously wounding two others.
Officials stated a Secret Service sniper shot dead the 20-year-old kitchen worker on the scene. But in his tranquil, well-to-do neighborhood, neighbors are in disbelief, apparently unable to understand how a quiet young man is now charged in the shooting.
For their part, the FBI has stated only that Crooks was the "subject involved in the murder attempt on the former president" and that an active investigation was underway.
WHO IS THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS?
Thomas Crooks was not carrying identification, so authorities utilized DNA to identify him, according to the FBI. He was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, around 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the attempted assassination site, and graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, receiving a $500 math and science prize, according to a local newspaper. Crooks worked at a local nursing home kitchen, just a short distance from his home, according to the BBC.
According to US media, state voting records reveal he was a registered Republican. He is also said to have contributed $15 to the liberal political group ActBlue in 2021. According to US media accounts, Crooks was dressed in a t-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a YouTube channel known for its gun and demolition content. The channel has millions of subscribers and features videos about various guns and explosive devices. The Associated Press, law enforcement officials believe Crook's father purchased the handgun used to kill Donald Trump.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, two cops informed the Associated Press that Crooks' father purchased a handgun at least six months ago.
The day after the shooting, it was reported that Crooks' truck contained suspicious devices, the suspect possessed commercially accessible equipment that appeared capable of activating the devices. Bomb technicians were dispatched to the scene to secure and examine the devices.
Speaking to local news outlet KDKA, some young locals who went to school with him described him as a loner, who was frequently bullied and sometimes wore "hunting outfits to school".
Another former classmate of his, Summer Barkley, cast him differently, telling the BBC that he was "always getting good grades on tests" and was "very passionate about history".
"Anything on government and history he seemed to know about," he said. "But it was nothing out of the ordinary....he was always nice."
Others simply remembered him as quiet.
"He was there but I can't think of anyone who knew him well," one former classmate, who asked to remain nameless, told the BBC. "He's just not a guy I really think about, but he seemed fine."
Jameson Myers, a former member of the Bethel Park High School varsity rifle team who graduated with Crooks in 2022, told CBS he did not make the team.
"He did not even make the junior varsity team after trying out," Mr. Myers said. "He never returned to tryouts for the remainder of high school."
Mr. Myers describes Crooks as a "normal boy" who was "not particularly popular but never got picked on or anything.""He was a nice kid who never talked poorly of anyone and I never have thought him capable of anything I've seen him do in the last few days."
Other community residents simply expressed disbelief that the alleged shooter could have come from Bethel Park's peaceful, leafy streets.
Among them was Jason Mackey, a 27-year-old resident who lives near the Crooks' home and formerly worked at the school.
While Mr Mackey denied knowing Crooks personally, he is still in shock.
"It's very shocking. "You wouldn't expect an event of this magnitude to occur in your own backyard," he remarked. "It's just a crazy situation."
THE WHY?
After establishing Crooks' identity, police and authorities are looking into his motivation.
"We do not currently have an identified motive," said Kevin Rojek, the FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge, during a briefing on Saturday night.
Mr Rojek stated that the investigation into what happened could take months and that detectives would work "tirelessly" to determine Crooks' motivation. Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN that he was trying to figure out "what the hell is going on" but would "wait until I talk to law enforcement" before commenting on his son.
According to CBS News, police have blocked off the road leading to Crooks' home with his parents. A neighbor told CBS that authorities evacuated her in the middle of the night without notice.
Bethel Park Police, a bomb investigation is ongoing near Crooks' home. Access to the region is still closely limited, with police cars blocking the roadways. Only residents have been permitted in and out.
Law enforcement officials informed the news that they believed there was some planning before the shooting. However, the exact amount of time spent on such planning is still being investigated. Police believe he acted alone, but are still investigating if he was accompanied to the rally.
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