Reports Detail Loneliness and Bullying of Trump Shooting Suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, Who Faced Rejection from School Rifle Team

A 2020 high school yearbook features Thomas Matthew Crooks, whom the FBI has named as the suspect in the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump. (Image: REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk) Since the FBI identified Crooks as the shooter, his political affiliations and motives have been hotly debated, but the information gathered thus far paints a picture of a man with unclear ideological leanings.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a quiet and often bullied individual, has been identified as the shooter in the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Despite a thorough investigation, the motive behind Crooks' actions remains elusive.

High school acquaintances describe Crooks, 20, as an ironically poor marksman. He attempted to join his school's rifle team but was rejected. Crooks, who fired multiple shots at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was looking forward to voting for the first time in the upcoming November 5 presidential elections. Tragically, this was not to be. On July 13, Crooks was shot and killed by the US Secret Service during his attempt on Trump’s life. While Trump survived, the attack resulted in the death of a bystander and critically injured two others.

Crooks' political inclinations remain unclear, though hints of a political interest have emerged. A registered Republican, he made a small donation to the Democratic Party at 17 and registered to vote shortly after turning 18. The FBI’s identification of Crooks as the shooter has sparked intense debate over his political affiliations and motives, exacerbating the already polarized political climate in the US. However, information from his home, neighborhood, school, and workplace paints a picture of a man whose ideological leanings are not immediately evident.

Discord, a social media platform, confirmed that Crooks rarely used his account and there is no evidence of it being used to plan the attack, promote violence, or discuss political views. His father, in a statement to CNN, expressed his confusion and desire to understand his son’s actions before commenting further.

On July 14, the FBI announced that Crooks' social media profiles did not contain any threatening language, nor did they find any history of mental health issues. However, what sets him apart from other recent shooters is his proximity to successfully assassinating a presidential candidate.

Crooks' early life details depict a young man working as a nursing home aide near his hometown in Pennsylvania. He graduated from high school in 2022, known as a bright yet quiet student. His high school counselor remembered him as “respectful” and non-political.

Public records show that Crooks' parents are politically mixed: his father is a registered Republican and his mother a registered Democrat. The predominantly white suburb of Bethel Park, where he lived, is a politically mixed area in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. President Joe Biden won the precinct including Crooks’ home with a narrow margin of 52%.

Marcie Grimm, administrator of the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where Crooks worked, expressed shock at his involvement, noting that he performed his job without issues and had a clean background check. A work colleague described him as caring and not appearing radical or politically motivated. A classmate, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that Crooks showed no particular interest in politics and was more focused on building computers and playing games.

Another classmate described Crooks as exceptionally intelligent, which made his actions all the more baffling. Jim Knapp, Crooks' high school counselor, recalled him as quiet, respectful, and generally keeping to himself, never displaying any political inclinations. Knapp also noted that Crooks was never disciplined in school and speculated that something must have triggered his actions.

Residents of Bethel Park are shocked and unsettled by the connection of the assassination attempt to their community. Wes Morgan, a local resident, expressed disbelief that such an event could be linked to someone from their otherwise sedate city.

Reports from The New York Post depict Crooks as a “comically bad shot,” with classmates recounting his failed attempt to join the high school rifle team. The school’s rifle range was 50 feet long and 21 feet wide, and Crooks once missed so badly he hit the opposite wall. Despite his loneliness in school, Crooks acted alone during the attack, as per FBI findings.

Classmates remembered Crooks as a quiet student who was frequently bullied. Jason Kohler, a high school peer, noted that Crooks seemed socially reserved and was often teased for his appearance and attire, which sometimes included hunting outfits. Kohler also mentioned that Crooks showed no facial expression in the hallways and was not part of any clique, making him a target for bullying.