Classmates Recall Shooter’s Past
In a shocking turn of events, the gunman who fired shots at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. According to the FBI, Crooks was rejected from his high school’s rifle team, a revelation shared by his former classmate, Jameson Myers.
Myers, a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School and a member of its varsity rifle team, recounted that Crooks had tried out for the team during his freshman year but failed to make the junior varsity roster. “He was a nice kid who never spoke poorly of anyone,” Myers said, expressing disbelief at Crooks’ actions. “I never thought him capable of anything I’ve seen him do in the last few days.”
Varied perspectives from former classmates
Crooks, who hailed from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was armed with a semiautomatic rifle when he was killed by a Secret Service sniper at the rally. His vehicle was found to contain suspicious devices, according to law enforcement sources.
Classmates provided mixed accounts of Crooks’ high school years. Summer Barkley, a fellow graduate, told CBS Pittsburgh station KDKA that Crooks was a good student, liked by teachers, and part of a friend group despite not being particularly popular. “I didn’t see any red flags,” she said.
Conversely, Jason Koehler, another classmate, described Crooks as a loner who faced bullying and often wore camo/hunting outfits to school. Koehler mentioned that Crooks remained cautious about COVID-19 long after mandates had lifted, frequently wearing a surgical mask.
Mark Sigafoos, who had classes with Crooks during their senior year, offered a different perspective, emphasizing that Crooks was engaged, intelligent, and approachable. “He was definitely nerdy, for sure, but he never gave off that he was creepy or like a school shooter,” Sigafoos said. “He seemed like he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Investigation underway
Federal law enforcement, including the Secret Service and the FBI, are currently investigating Crooks’ background and interviewing his family. The FBI has secured Crooks’ home and is searching his family’s residence in suburban Pittsburgh. “We do not currently have an identified motive,” said Kevin Rojek, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge, at a briefing late Saturday night.
Rally tragedy
Former President Trump, in a post on his social media platform, stated that a bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear during the attack. He was examined at a local hospital before traveling to New Jersey late Saturday night.
The rally shooting resulted in the death of audience member Corey Comperatore and left two other men in critical condition. As the investigation continues, the community remains in shock over the tragic events and the unexpected revelations about the gunman’s past.