Thomas Matthew Crooks’ father was seen in public for the first time since his son’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The 20-year-old gunman opened fire at the rally, injuring several people and killing bystander Corey Comperatore. Investigators have been visiting Crooks’ family home to understand the motive behind the attack.
Crooks’ parents, Matthew and Mary, who are licensed professional counselors, had called the police hours before the shooting, expressing concerns about their son’s well-being as he was missing. It is unclear whether they were aware that he had an AR-15 registered under his father’s name. Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2020 and earned an associate’s degree in engineering from the Community College of Allegheny County.
He was planning to enroll at Robert Morris University and the University of Pittsburgh before the incident. Investigators are trying to determine how Crooks was able to evade security measures at the rally and climb onto a building’s roof to carry out the shooting. Crooks was part of a local gun club and had purchased ammunition before the attack.
A former classmate mentioned that Crooks had expressed disdain for politicians, particularly those supporting Trump, and had shown signs of major depressive disorder. His online searches included information about political events and images of Trump and President Biden.
Crooks’ family members are cooperating with the FBI’s investigation to understand the events leading up to the attempted assassination. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before Congress about the security lapses at the rally site. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and investigators are looking into how Crooks managed to evade law enforcement and set up his attack.
Despite the tragedy, the Crooks family is seeking privacy and self-care during this challenging time. Matthew Crooks expressed that they would release a statement when advised by legal counsel and requested space to focus on taking care of themselves. The community is still reeling from the events of that day and trying to make sense of the senseless violence that occurred.
As the investigation continues, authorities hope to uncover more details about Crooks’ intentions and the events leading up to the attempted assassination. The impact of such incidents resonates far beyond the immediate aftermath, leaving communities grappling with questions of security, mental health, and the motivations behind such violent acts.
