A bullet fired by a would-be assassin grazed the ear of former U.S. President Donald Trump as he spoke at a political rally in Pennsylvania less than four months before the November election. Trump now joins a handful of other U.S. presidents who have been targets of similar plots.
The shooting injured Trump, wounded two spectators and killed Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father of two. Here's what we know about the man who tried to murder the Republican nominee for the Oval Office.
Who shot Donald Trump?
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the sniper involved in the attempted assassination of former president Trump shortly after 6 p.m. July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania. At least six loud bangs were heard before Trump was whisked off stage by Secret Service agents, with his fist raised, as chaos erupted.
Thomas Matthew Crooks:FBI identifies Trump shooter at Pennsylvania political rally
How old was Thomas Crooks?
Crooks was born Sept. 20, 2003 and was 20 years old before Secret Service agents killed him moments after multiple gunshots erupted where Trump was addressing a crowd.
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Where is Thomas Crooks from?
Crooks was a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, a population of around 34,000 people as of the 2020 census. The town is a suburb of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and is roughly 53 miles to the south of Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was holding a rally.
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What gun did Crooks use?
An AR-15-style rifle was found beside Crooks' body, according to authorities, who believe the rifle used 5.56 ammunition purchased by Crooks' father. The weapon is relatively common in the United States. About 1 in 20 adults in the nation owns one,according to The Washington Post.
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Was the gun purchased legally?
Yes, authorities believe the gun Crooks allegedly used in an attempt to kill Trump was purchased legally by Matthew Crooks, his father. The Associated Press reported Matthew Crooks may have bought the rifle six months before the shooting from an online gun vendor.
How far away was the shooter?
Shortly before Trump took the stage, witnesses told BBC reporters they saw a man with a rifle "bear-crawling up the roof" of the American Glass Research building, which was just outside the official security perimeter but 150 yards away from Trump, well within the range of a 5.56 caliber rifle bullet.
What went wrong?How did Secret Service allow shooter to get so close to Trump?
Did Crooks act alone?
Yes, despite online rumors to the contrary, Crooks appears to have acted alone in the plot, according to reports from the FBI. The agency is still actively investigating the shooting.
Trump rally shooter:Thomas Crooks appears to have acted alone, used 'AR-style 556' rifle: FBI
Where did Thomas Crooks work?
Crooks worked as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, a nursing home less than a mile from his home. The job involves food preparation and Crooks passed a background check, his employer said, as part of his employment.
Marcie Grimm, the facility's administrator, told USA TODAY she was "shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement."
Was Crooks a registered Republican?
Yes, Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, according to county voter records. His voter registration status has been active since 2021.
Records from the Federal Election Commission showed in January 2021, Crooks made a $15 donation to the Progressive Turnout Project, a group working to increase voter turnout for Democrats.
Did Thomas Crooks have a criminal record?
No, Crooks had no criminal record in Pennsylvania nor had he been sued there, according to state court records. Federal court databases had no record of Crooks either.
What are neighbors saying?
Bethel Park residents remembered Crooks as "quiet and shy" while he attended high school. Neighbors told USA TODAY they were shocked after hearing news Crooks was the suspected shooter.
“You wouldn’t have expected this,” Dean Sierka, 52, said. He lives a few houses away from Crooks and his parents, and told reporters he's known them for years. “The parents and the family are all really nice people.”
Was Crooks bullied at school?
Yes, it's possible Crooks was the target of bullying.
Crooks graduated two years ago from Bethel Park High School, which enrolls about 1,300 students, the Bethel Park School District confirmed. A local news articleincluded his name among other students as a recipient for a National Math & Science Initiative Star Award.
A former student who attended classes at Bethel Park High School said Crooks, known as "Tom," sat alone at lunch and was “bullied every day.” Kids picked on him, he said, for wearing camouflage to class and for his quiet demeanor.
Another former student told USA TODAY they didn't recall Crooks having friends, playing sports or being involved in any student groups while attending high school.
Crooks was member of a private gun club
Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a group with more than 2,000 members about eight miles from Crooks’ home. The sprawling complex of 180 acres features rifle, pistol, archery and competition range, an area for dog training and a club house, according to its website.
“The Club fully admonishes the senseless act of violence that occurred onSaturday,” attorney Robert Bootay III wrote in a statement to USA TODAY. “The Club also offers its sincerest condolences to the Comperatore family and extends prayers to all of those injured including the former President.”
Why did Crooks shoot Trump?
Investigators are still pouring over Crooks' life trying to establish a reason for the shooting. As of Monday, authorities haven't released a motive.
Thomas Crooks:Neighbors, classmates, employer speak about the suspected Trump rally shooter
USA TODAY and its affiliated network staff contributed to this article.
John Tuftscovers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip atJTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter atJTuftsReports.
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