What We Know About the Alleged Trump Shooter
The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the individual who allegedly shot at President Donald Trump and killed one person at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Trump reported that a bullet grazed the upper part of his right ear. Two other individuals were also injured before Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks.
Investigators believe the suspect’s father purchased the firearm used at the rally six months ago, according to a person familiar with the inquiry who could not speak publicly. The source also confirmed the discovery of at least one potentially operational explosive device in the suspect’s vehicle.
Here’s what we know so far about the 20-year-old.
Where is Crooks From?
The Crooks family home is situated in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, a working-to-middle-class community south of Pittsburgh. Efforts to contact family members listed as residents were unsuccessful. Neighbors described the area as “quiet,” located about 53 miles from the shooting site.
Jim Zawojski, a 70-year-old retiree living in Bethel Park, said, “People kind of keep to themselves. You say hi to your neighbors, but people aren’t especially close-knit.” Zawojski mentioned he had received mail intended for the Crooks house but had no direct interactions with the family.
Law enforcement officers blocked off the street where Crooks is believed to have lived on Sunday. Zawojski speculated about the family’s state, wondering if there were any signs indicating Crooks’ mental state.
The Bethel Park School District confirmed that Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and stated its cooperation with investigators.
Details Begin to Take Shape
Marcie Grimm, the administrator of Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, confirmed in a statement that Crooks worked there as a dietary aide. Grimm expressed shock over the allegations and mentioned that Crooks had a clean background check.
Crooks was also a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club. Legal counsel Robert S. Bootay offered condolences to the victims’ families and condemned the violence in a statement.
A social media account linked to Crooks was found on Discord, but it showed no signs of planning the incident, promoting violence, or discussing political views, according to a spokesperson.
Crooks had received a $500 National Math & Science Initiative Star Award in 2022, and was described as an average, relatively intelligent student, according to Allegheny County Councilor Dan Grzybek.
A Possible Motive is Unclear
Investigators are still working to determine what may have motivated Crooks. Records show he was a registered Republican but donated $15 through ActBlue, a Democratic-aligned organization, in 2021. Crooks had no criminal history according to Pennsylvania’s public court records database.