Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to shoot former President Donald Trump, had a promising future ahead of him according to his former teacher at Pittsburgh’s Community College of Allegheny County. Crooks, 20, graduated in May with an associate’s degree in engineering and was planning to continue his education at Robert Morris University before the incident occurred.
His teacher, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed shock after the shooting and reviewed Crooks’ homework assignments. She noted that he was a thoughtful and polite student who went “above and beyond” in his projects. One particular project that stood out was a 3D-printed chess set for blind players, complete with Braille markings. Crooks had consulted experts in the field and put a lot of care into the project.
Despite his academic achievements, Crooks met a tragic end when he was shot dead by snipers after firing shots at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident left former firefighter Corey Comperatore dead as well. Crooks, who seemed focused on pursuing a career in engineering, shocked those who knew him with his violent actions.
Classmate Samuel Strotman, who had online courses with Crooks, described him as mostly silent during lectures with his camera turned off. Strotman mentioned that Crooks had been bullied in high school for his appearance and worked as a dietary aide at a local nursing home without any incident. Another peer from Bethel Park High School mentioned that Crooks was an avid gamer who enjoyed building computers.
Crooks’ school counselor, Jim Knapp, recalled seeing him sitting alone during lunch but noted that Crooks seemed content by himself. While Crooks was a registered Republican, his father was a Libertarian, and his mother was a Democrat. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the assassination attempt.
Despite Crooks’ quiet demeanor and academic achievements, his actions have left those who knew him in shock. Max Rich, a classmate, described Crooks as a “quiet” kid who mostly interacted with his small friend group. The community is still trying to make sense of the tragic events that unfolded at the rally.
The details surrounding Thomas Matthew Crooks and the assassination attempt on former President Trump continue to unravel as investigators work to understand the motive behind the violent act. The shocking turn of events has left many questioning how a promising student could have taken such drastic actions. The community mourns the lives lost and grapples with the aftermath of the tragic incident.
