A shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania killed one man and hurt two others, including former President Donald Trump. The FBI sees it as a possible act of domestic terrorism. But, they still don’t know why the 20-year-old, Thomas Matthew Crooks, did it.
They’ve talked to over 100 people and looked into Crooks’ home and car. Yet, they haven’t figured out what made him try to assassinate Trump. The Secret Service and local police are being watched closely. They’re being questioned about how Crooks got to the rooftop to shoot.
Shooter’s Identity and Background
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was the gunman at the Trump rally. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. His classmates said he was often bullied and sat alone at lunch.
Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks?
Crooks voted Republican but gave $15 to a progressive group in 2021. His mom was a Democrat, his dad a Libertarian. He had no history of mental illness or extremist ties.
Early Life and Education
- Crooks got an associate’s degree in engineering science from Community College of Allegheny County in May 2022.
- He was going to Robert Morris University in the fall, but his plans were stopped by the tragic event.
- He tried out for his high school’s rifle team but didn’t make it because he wasn’t good at shooting.
The suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was seen as quiet, kind, and smart by his peers. Yet, the reason he aimed at Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania rally is still unknown.
“Crooks was a quiet, kind, and intelligent individual, according to his classmates and former coworkers. However, the investigation into his motives has yet to uncover a clear political or ideological driver behind his actions.”
The Shooting Incident
A tragic event happened at a Trump campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. The Pennsylvania State Police told the U.S. Secret Service about a suspicious person with a rangefinder at 5:51 p.m. This was 20 minutes before the shooting started.
At 6:03 p.m., former President Donald Trump went on stage to speak to the crowd. Then, at 6:11 p.m., the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, started shooting. He hit Trump in the right ear. A bystander, Corey Comperatore, was also killed trying to protect his family. Two others, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, got hurt too.
Law Enforcement Response
The FBI talked to nearly 100 people to figure out what happened. They found out Crooks acted alone and wasn’t known to the FBI before. He bought the gun and 50 rounds of ammunition at a local shop that morning.
Casualties and Injuries
The shooting shocked the Bethel Park community. Trump got a minor injury, but the loss of Corey Comperatore and the hurt of David Dutch and James Copenhaver was huge. It deeply affected the rally attendees and the area.
| Victim | Status |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump | Injured (right ear) |
| Corey Comperatore | Killed |
| David Dutch | Wounded |
| James Copenhaver | Wounded |
The shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania was very sad. It has deeply affected the nation. As they look into it, authorities aim to find out why the shooter did it and if it’s linked to domestic terrorism.
Search for Motive
Investigators are working hard to find out why Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to kill former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. They’ve looked at thomas crooks social media but haven’t found any threats. They also haven’t found a clear gunman ideology that would explain why Crooks did it.
Crooks’ online activity and social media presence haven’t given away his motives. The FBI thinks he acted alone. They’re still checking his phone and other evidence to figure out why he did it in the trump shooting investigation.
Potential Ideological Beliefs
Authorities are looking into Crooks’ background and his beliefs. He was a registered Republican but had also supported a progressive voting group. This shows he might have had mixed political views.
People who knew him say Crooks was smart and kept to himself. He didn’t talk much about his thomas crooks motive or politics. This makes it hard for investigators to understand why he attacked mar-a-lago.
Online Activity and Social Media Presence
Crooks’ crooks social media and online actions haven’t shown any clear warnings. The police have looked at his internet use and social media posts. They wanted to see if he said or did anything that could explain his actions.
Crooks had looked up information on Trump, Biden, and other famous people. But he didn’t make any threats or share any clear political views. This has made it hard for the FBI to find a reason for his actions.
The FBI’s experts can’t find a clear reason after looking at Crooks’ phone and other devices. This mystery has left everyone confused. They’re still trying to understand the trump shooting investigation.
trump shooter motive
Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to shoot former President Donald Trump, but why is still a mystery. The FBI has looked into many things but can’t figure out his motive. They’ve checked his digital life and talked to many people.
Crooks was 20 and had an engineering science degree. He was a registered Republican and bought the rifle legally. But, he didn’t give a clear reason for the attack at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Many theories are being looked at, like political beliefs or personal issues. But, nothing clear has been found yet. Over 2,600 tips have come in, and the FBI is still checking if others helped him.
Crooks went to the rally twice, staying for about 70 minutes. His phone had pictures of Trump and other politicians. But, there were no scary messages. The FBI did over 200 interviews but still don’t know why he did it.
The rally was very scary. Trump got hurt, one person died, and two others were very badly hurt. The Secret Service heard about a suspicious person 25 minutes before the shooting. But, they couldn’t find him until he started shooting from a rooftop.
The search for what motivated the Trump shooter is ongoing. Authorities are trying to gain insight into the crook’s motives and analyze the gunman’s intent.
“The lack of a known motive has fueled speculation and conspiracy theories, underscoring the challenges in understanding such acts of political violence.”
Domestic Terrorism Concerns
The FBI is looking into the Trump rally shooting as a possible act of domestic terrorism. They are worried about more violence happening because of it. They want to see if the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was linked to domestic violent extremist groups or ideologies.
FBI’s Investigation into Domestic Violent Extremism
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security say they think some DVEs (Domestic Violent Extremists) might try more violence after this event. This event shows how big the threat of political violence and right-wing extremist activity is in the US.
There were 529 terrorism cases in the US from 2011 to 2021. In 2020, there were 102 cases. Experts say the internet and social media are making domestic terrorism worse.
- The suspected shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, bought 50 rounds of ammunition and used a semiautomatic AR-style rifle at the rally where the shooting happened.
- Crooks was found with three suspected improvised explosive devices, two of which were in his car.
- Previous cases of domestic terrorism involving lone actors have led to charges ranging from weapons offenses to conspiracy, depending on the circumstances.
The FBI’s investigation into this as a possible act of domestic terrorism shows we need to be careful. We must watch out for the threat of political violence and the rise of right-wing extremist activity in our country.
Fallout and Reactions
The attempt to shoot former President Donald Trump at a rally in Mar-a-Lago has caused big reactions. Leaders and people are talking about how to move forward after this violent event. They are calling for everyone to come together and say no to political violence.
Political Responses
President Joe Biden spoke to the nation from the Oval Office. He asked Americans to stop using violence in politics and to unite after this sad event. But, some Republicans like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene got into trouble for bad comments about the Secret Service director, Kimberly A. Cheatle. People are worried about security issues.
Public Outcry and Calls for Unity
People are very upset and sad about the shooting, which killed a bystander named Corey Comperatore. A vigil was held to remember the victim and grieve together. Those at the rally, like Renee White and Tim Wadzita, can’t believe it happened. They say it’s important for Americans to find peace and work together, even if they disagree.
This event has made people worry more about the divided politics and violence in the U.S. As we learn more about the attempt to kill Donald Trump, we’re facing big challenges. The country is trying to come together and deal with this serious situation.
Security Protocols and Lapses
The security at Mar-a-Lago let the gunman get to the rooftop. From there, he shot at the former president. The Secret Service and local police are under a lot of pressure. They are being questioned about how the shooter got a clear shot at Trump.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the shooter should not have been able to see the former president. This event has made people worry more about the safety of leaders. It shows we need better security to stop such attacks.
Alarming Security Failures
The attack on the former president showed big security problems. The shooter bought 50 rounds of ammunition before getting to the rally. After the shooting, 3 suspected improvised explosive devices were found, including two in the shooter’s car.
Also, 3 snipers were inside the building during the shooting. But only 1 sniper shot to stop the gunman. This makes people wonder if the police were ready and working together well.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Rounds of ammunition purchased | 50 |
| Suspected improvised explosive devices found | 3 |
| Snipers stationed inside the building | 3 |
| Snipers who fired a round to neutralize the gunman | 1 |
The 20-year-old gunman got to a rooftop and shot at the former president. He hurt one person, killed another, and seriously hurt two more. This event has made people worry more about safety at Trump events. It shows we need better security protocols to keep leaders safe from violence.
“The shooter should never have been able to get a clear view of the former president,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Legal Proceedings and Aftermath
The legal actions and what comes next after the try to kill former President Donald Trump are still happening. The FBI is leading the look into the shooting. They see it as a possible act of domestic terrorism. They took many things from the gunman’s car and home, like bombs and more guns.
The Justice Department plans to charge Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter, with federal crimes. He was killed by a Secret Service sniper. The attack’s effects, like looking at security and political reactions, will keep getting attention.
Even though the shooter’s motives are unclear, the legal steps after the Mar-a-Lago shooting worry about more political violence. This event will likely change politics in the coming days and weeks.