What we know about the 20-year-old man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump
- Registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks, who worked at a nursing home, described as a loner who had been bullied at school
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Sunday it has not yet identified any threatening writing or social media posts from Crooks, who graduated from high school two years ago and had no past criminal cases against him, according to public court records. The FBI believes he acted alone.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said on social media the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. Two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. The man killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the area who Pennsylvania’s governor says died a “hero” by diving onto his family to protect them.
Relatives of Crooks did not immediately respond to messages from reporters. His father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN late on Saturday that he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but would not speak about his son until after he talked to police.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. In a video of the school’s graduation ceremony posted online, Crooks can be seen crossing the stage to receive his diploma, appearing slight of build and wearing glasses. The school district said it will cooperate fully with investigators. In his senior year, Crooks was among several pupils given an award for maths and science, according to a newspaper report in the Tribune-Review at the time.
Jason Kohler, who said he attended the same school but did not share any classes with Crooks, said Crooks was bullied at school and sat alone at lunchtime. Other pupils mocked him for the way he dressed, such as hunting outfits, Kohler said.
