Home » Home » Who Was Thomas Matthew Crooks? What We Know About Donald Trump’s Would-Be Assassin

Who Was Thomas Matthew Crooks? What We Know About Donald Trump’s Would-Be Assassin

By  //  July 14, 2024

Crooks was planted on the roof of a manufacturing plant 130 yards away from the stage

The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the would-be assassin who shot former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon. Crooks is from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania is a Pittsburgh suburb about an hour south from where the assassination attempt happened.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and graduated from high school in 2022

The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the would-be assassin who shot former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon.

One of several shots Crooks squeezed off from the rooftop of a manufacturing plant about 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds grazed President Trump’snright ear.

Crooks is from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania is a Pittsburgh suburb about an hour south from where the assassination attempt happened.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, which has about 1,400 students. He received a $500 “star award” that year from the National Math and Science Initiative, according to The Tribune-Review.

Crooks was employed by a local nursing home in Bethel Park, where he worked in the kitchen.

No criminal history could be found in public court records, and law enforcement officials said they had not yet identified a motive to the attenpted assassination.

According to voting records, Crooks was a registered Republican and participated in the Nov. 8, 2022, state election. Reports also show that his mother is a Democrat and his father a Libertarian.

Federal campaign-finance records also show that Crook donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee that supports Democrat candidates for public office and claims to advocate for young people, minorities and low-income people. The donation was made through the platform ActBlue in January 2021.

According to the FBI, Crooks was not carrying ID, so investigators used DNA to identify him.

According to reports, Crooks was wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a YouTube channel offering information on different guns and explosive devices.

According to an AP report, the rifle used in the shooting was purchased by Crook’s 53-year-old father at least six months ago.

The FBI said this remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

ABOVE: President Donald Trump moments after being shot by an assassin during a rally on Saturday in Pennsylvania. “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” said President Trump. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

NEW YORK POST – The gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump Saturday was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, sources told The Post.

Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pa., squeezed off shots — one of which grazed Trump in the ear — at an outdoor rally in Butler, just outside Pittsburgh.

Sources said Crooks was planted on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds.

CLICK HERE to see the full story on nypost.com>>>

WATCH: A man with a rifle was seen on a rooftop minutes before shots were fired at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania, a witness has told the BBC.

BBC.COM – A man with a rifle was seen on a rooftop minutes before shots were fired at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania, a witness has told the BBC.

Greg, the witness, said the man had crawled on top of a building just outside the event in Butler County on Friday evening.
He said he pointed the gunman out to police.

“I’m thinking to myself ‘Why is Trump still speaking, why have they not pulled him off the stage’… the next thing you know, five shots ring out.”

The former president was immediately swarmed by Secret Service agents and escorted away. He was seen with blood on his face and later said a bullet had pierced his ear.

The gunman was shot dead, officials later confirmed. Greg told the BBC he saw Secret Service agents shoot the man.

CLICK HERE to see the full story on BBC.com>>>

Former President Donald Trump released the following statement on Truth Social on Saturday evening:

I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.

Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.

I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Meanwhile the U.S. Secret Service issued this statement about the incident:

During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.

US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured.

The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of investigation.

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ABOVE VIDEO: Former President Trump Rushed Off Stage by Secret Service After Gunshots at Campaign Rally.

This is a developing story, check back for updates