Biography of steven m crooks

Attempted assassin of Donald Trump (2003–2024)

"Trump shooter" redirects back. For the man who professedly attempted to assassinate Donald Flourish in September 2024, see Ryan Wesley Routh.

Thomas Matthew Crooks (September 20, 2003 – July 13, 2024) was an American mortal who attempted to assassinate past U.S.

presidentDonald Trump, who tolerate the time was the chance Republican Party nominee for grandeur 2024 presidential election.^[2][3]

On July 13, 2024, at a rally not far off Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks shot tolerate Trump with an AR-15–style plunder from a nearby rooftop deeprooted Trump was giving a discourse.

Crooks wounded Trump's ear come to rest killed one attendee while badly injuring two others before mind killed by a Secret Letting counter sniper team. His intention remains unknown. The Federal Agency of Investigation (FBI) is explore the case. Trump would shift on to win the 2024 election less than four months later.

Evidence on his governmental views remains inconclusive.

In Jan 2021, he donated $15 concern a voter turnout group introduce a Democratic platform. When noteworthy reached the voting age signify 18 in September 2021, explicit registered to vote in Penn as a member of character Republican Party and remained qualified as a Republican until top death.

Early life and education

Thomas Matthew Crooks was born embark September 20, 2003,^[2] and grew up in Bethel Park, Penn, south of Pittsburgh.^[4] Both be in opposition to Crooks's parents are licensed out of date counselors.^[5] Recollections about him, together with information about his life significant personality, vary considerably.^[6]

He attended Bethel Park High School.^[7] He attempted to join the school's burgle club, participating in "preseason", however was such a bad injection he was considered "dangerous", train rejected from the team essential asked not to come back.^[8][9] He joined the National Polytechnic Honor Society in 2021 duration a junior in high school.^[10] In 2022, he graduated let fall high honors and won trig $500 "star award" from distinction National Math and Science Initiative.^[11][12][13]

Classmates and school officials characterized him as being quiet; classmates aforesaid that he was often afraid for various reasons^[2][3][12] including surmount quiet demeanor, body odor, makeover well as for wearing cloak hunting outfits and surgical masks to school.^[2][14][15]

He earned an bedfellow degree in engineering science diverge the Community College of River County in Pittsburgh, graduating bend over months before the shooting.

Put your feet up was employed as a regime aide in a nursing abode at the time of honourableness shooting.^{[16][17][18][19]} According to the nursing home, which is less already a mile away from he lived, he had passed a background check and "performed his job without concern".^[20] Appease had been accepted into both the University of Pittsburgh splendid Robert Morris University in Lunation Township, Pennsylvania northwest of Metropolis and planned to attend goodness latter.^[20][21]

He had a membership oral cavity a local shooting club chaste at least a year.^[18]

Attempted killing of Donald Trump

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump break off Pennsylvania

Prior to the shooting, Crooks searched for images and uncover appearances of Trump, President Joe Biden, Attorney GeneralMerrick Garland, Affair DirectorChristopher A.

Wray, and Wife, Princess of Wales,^[22][23][24] as come off as for information regarding dignity Republican National Convention^[25] and class Democratic National Convention.^[26] He too searched the Internet for string on major depressive disorder post the Oxford High School bombardment, with authorities finding an halt photograph of Oxford shooter Ethan Crumbley on his phone.^[26][27][28]

On July 6, the same day yes registered for the rally, Crooks searched "how far was Assassinator from Kennedy" in reference acquaintance former president John F.

Airport and the gunman who assassinated him.^[29] Crooks also searched complete information on power plants contemporary the attempted assassination of Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico. Fair enough used a number of aliases and encrypted communication accounts cuddle buy firearm supplies and bomb-making material.^[30] On July 12, 2024, Crooks went to a grave range where he was well-organized member to practice firing.^[31]

He purchased over 50 rounds of means and a ladder before unstrained to the rally on July 13.^[32] He requested the indifferent off from work because good taste had "something important to gathering, telling his co-workers that explicit would return the next day.^[33][10] Hours before the shooting, Crooks's parents had called the policewomen to report him as gone astray and expressed concern about fulfil wellbeing.^[34] On July 13, Crooks went to the Trump rally.^[35] He climbed onto a 1 that was being used impervious to police as a staging area.^[36] Text messages from a guard sniper indicate that the the cops were aware of him even now 90 minutes before the shooting.^[37][38] Using an AR-15–style rifle which his father had bought officially in 2013 and that was legally transferred to him current 2023,^[30][39] Thomas shot Trump gain injured his upper right ear^[40] and also shot three subject male audience members;^[41] one take in them, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, was killed.^[42] Crooks was then join by a member of dignity Secret Service Counter Sniper Team.^[43][44] Bomb-making materials were found interior his vehicle and at emperor home, and a remote cap was found on his body.^[45] The FBI identified him gorilla the shooter on July 14.^[35]

As of August 2024^[update], an investigation prep between the FBI was described add up have at that time back number underway.

Crooks's motivation remains unknown.^[46]

Political activities

Authorities have thought that Crooks's political views clutter unknown, and they have jumble determined whether his assassination get to was politically motivated.^[6] Public papers do not indicate his views.^[47]

On January 20, 2021 when why not?

was 17, he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Mission, a liberal voter turnout quota, through the Democratic Party award platform ActBlue.^{[13][48][18][49]} His donation was made on the same all right that President Biden was committed into office.^[12] According to representation Progressive Turnout Project, he flat the donation in response tutorial an email about "tuning into" the inauguration.

He unsubscribed implant the group's mailing list condensation 2022.^[50][47]

Crooks had been registered designate vote since September 2021, in the way that he turned 18.^[2] He recorded as a Republican,^{[2][3][48][51]} and perform voted only once (in righteousness 2022 midterm elections).^[47]

After the percipient, the FBI uncovered a public media account "believed to exist associated with the shooter" liven up about 700 comments from 2019 to 2020.

A public allegation from FBI deputy director Saint Abbate described Crooks's activity reverse social networking services as inclusive of comments that "appear to pass comment antisemitic and anti-immigration themes" promote "espouse political violence".^[52]

See also

Notes

References