WASHINGTON (AP) — The 20-year-old individual who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump initially attracted law enforcement’s scrutiny during Saturday’s rally when attendees observed his peculiar behavior outside the event. This tip-off initiated a frantic search; however, authorities were unable to locate him before he ascended to a rooftop and commenced shooting.
Following the incident, which resulted in the death of one spectator, investigators are diligently seeking any clues to ascertain what compelled Thomas Matthew Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, to perpetrate this alarming act. The FBI is examining it as a potential act of domestic terrorism, although the absence of an explicit ideological motive in the man, who was fatally shot by the Secret Service, has led to a proliferation of conspiracy theories.
“I implore everyone—everyone, please, refrain from making assumptions about his motives or affiliations,” President Joe Biden stated in remarks on Sunday from the White House. “Allow the FBI and their partner agencies to perform their duties. I have instructed that this investigation be comprehensive and expeditious.”
The FBI believes Crooks, who had bomb-making materials in the vehicle he drove to the rally, acted independently. Investigators have yet to discover any threatening remarks on his social media profiles or ideological stances that might elucidate why he targeted Trump before the Secret Service swiftly removed the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from the stage, his face streaked with blood.
Trump mentioned on social media that the upper part of his right ear was grazed in the shooting, yet advisers indicated he was in “great spirits” ahead of his arrival in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. Two spectators were critically injured, and a former local fire chief, Corey Comperatore, was killed. Pennsylvania’s governor praised Comperatore, 50, for his heroism, noting he sacrificed himself to shield his family.
Relatives of Crooks did not respond to numerous messages from The Associated Press. His father, Matthew Crooks, informed CNN late Saturday that he was trying to comprehend “what the hell is going on” but would not comment on his son until after speaking with law enforcement. An FBI official conveyed that Crooks’ family is cooperating with the investigation.
Several rallygoers reported Crooks’ suspicious behavior to local officers, including his pacing near the magnetometers, according to a law enforcement official who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. Officers were then alerted that Crooks was climbing a ladder, the official said. They searched for him but could not locate him before he reached the rooftop, the official added.
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe told the AP that a local officer climbed to the roof and encountered Crooks, who turned towards the officer just before the officer descended to safety. Slupe stated the officer could not have drawn his own firearm under the circumstances. The officer retreated down the ladder, and Crooks swiftly fired a shot towards Trump, prompting Secret Service snipers to shoot him, according to two officials who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
FBI officials said Sunday they are scrutinizing Crooks’ background and social media activities while working to gain access to his phone. Discord, a social media platform popular among gamers, stated that Crooks appeared to have had an account but used it infrequently and not in recent months. There is no evidence he used his account to incite violence or express political views, according to a Discord spokesperson.
Crooks’ political inclinations were not immediately apparent. Records indicate Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, yet federal campaign finance reports also show he contributed $15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the day Biden was inaugurated.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. In a video of the school’s graduation ceremony posted online, Crooks can be seen crossing the stage to receive his diploma, appearing slender and bespectacled. The school district has pledged full cooperation with investigators. During his senior year, Crooks was among several students awarded for excellence in math and science, according to a Tribune-Review article at the time.
Crooks attempted to join the school’s rifle team but was rejected due to poor shooting skills, said Frederick Mach, a current captain of the team who was a few years behind Crooks at the school.
