Thomas Matthew Crooks ID’d as gunman who shot Trump during Pa. rally
By Joe Marino, Katherine Donlevy,
2024-07-14
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 at least five to seven shots — one of which grazed Trump in the ear — at an outdoor rally in Butler, just outside Pittsburgh, according to law enforcement sources.
Sources said Crooks crawled on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who tried to assassinate Donald Trump has been pictured. Obtained by the NY Post Law enforcement officers stand over the alleged shooter in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024. Obtained by NY Post Authorities at the street entrance of suspect Thomas Crooks’ home in Bethel Park, PA early Sunday morning. LP Media for NY Post Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. AP
Authorities recovered an AR-style semi-automatic assault rifle from the scene. He was also wearing a shirt for a popular gun YouTube channel called Demolition Ranch.
Bethel Park is a village 40 miles south of where the Butler rally was held.
According to state voter status records, Crooks was a registered Republican.
The shooter made one singular $15 donation to the liberal ActBlue political action committee on January 20, 2021 — Biden’s Inauguration Day, the Intercept reported.
Crooks graduated from high school in 2022. Obtained by NY Post Crooks was a registered Republican, according to state voting records.
Law enforcement members from the Allegheny County Police Department, guard the perimeter of the home of the 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. REUTERS
At the time of the donation, Crooks was 17-years-old. He registered to vote upon turning 18 in September of that same year as a member of the GOP, records show.
Crooks was a member of the 2022 graduating class at Bethel Park High School, the school district confirmed Sunday morning.
Video shows him walking across a stage to accept his diploma.
New York Post Front Cover July 14, 2024: “Trump Shot”
He also received a $500 National Math and Science Initative Star Award during his graduating year, TribLive reported.
Why Crooks fired on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is unclear.
Early Sunday the FBI officially confirmed the Post’s reporting, calling Crooks the “subject involved” in the attack on Trump.
The streets around Crooks’ house were blocked off by police.
A neighbor told The Post he saw an Allegheny County bomb squad preparing to enter the home shortly after 1 a.m.
“I saw a post of his name and that he lived in Bethel Park, so I looked him up and he lives .3 miles away,” Dan Maloney, 30, said regarding shooter Thomas Crooks.
Crooks was 20 years old. Obtained by NY Post A bomb squad officer updates neighbors close to the home of Crooks. Obtained by NY Post
“I went down there and spoke to the county bomb squad at 1:06 a.m. He said he was about to go into the house.
I didn’t know the guy. No one in this neighborhood really talks to each other.
“It’s a tragedy. One person died, another is in the hospital. He went after a former president and likely the next president.”
For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.
Comments / 113
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LeftRightLeft
07-14
Republicans trying to take out maga!
Catherine Rivera
07-14
Conspiracy theorists across the spectrum are having lots of fun hyping people up. That was predictable, sadly, as well as people trying to make political and financial hay out of it. It seems the the shooter has more in common with those who have done mass shootings in the past, as opposed to someone with strictly political motives.
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