The suspected gunman in Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was a registered Republican from Bethel Park who donated money to a politically liberal group before he was old enough to vote. The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the shooter early Sunday...
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Who is Thomas Crooks, the alleged gunman in the Trump shooting?
Ryan Deto
RYAN DETO
Sunday, July 14, 2024 11:21 a.m.
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The suspected gunman in Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was a registered Republican from Bethel Park who donated money to a politically liberal group before he was old enough to vote.
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the shooter early Sunday.
He lived in Bethel Park, a South Hills suburb of more than 33,000 people that is about 50 miles south of the Butler Farm Show grounds where the attempted assassination took place.
Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge in Pittsburgh, said during a news conference early Sunday that investigators had not yet determined a motive.
Crooks lived along the borough’s Milford Drive. Part of the street was blocked off by law enforcement Sunday morning. Firefighters, local police and state troopers could be seen milling about the street this morning. Neighbors and members of the news media also could be seen walking around, many trying to get a glimpse of the house where the shooter lived.
Crooks was a registered Republican, the same party as Trump, according to state voter files.
Live from Bethel Park: Media and reporters from around the country are gathered near Milford Drive — where Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, lived.
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— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) July 14, 2024
At 17, before Crooks was able to register to vote, he donated $15 to a group called the Progressive Turnout Project, which aims to boost Democratic voter turnout, according Federal Election Commission reports. He made that donation on Jan. 20, 2021, the same day President Joe Biden was sworn into his office.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.
Allegheny County Councilman Dan Grzybek, D-Bethel Park, was present at that graduation ceremony. Grzybek, a Bethel Park School Board member at the time, said he didn’t know Crooks personally but spoke Sunday morning with two people who did.
Gryzbek said they reported that Crooks was known as a “quieter kid.”
“He was not someone that people anticipated would do something like this,” Grzybek said. “Everyone I talked to was very surprised.”
He said Crooks was known for being an above average student. In 2022, Crooks received a National Math & Science Initiative Star Award, records show.
Grzybeck lives on the same street as Crooks and said he stopped at the Crooks home during his campaign for county council. Crooks’ mother is a registered Democrat and his father is a registered Libertarian. Both are licensed social workers, according to state records.
Joe Thome lives a block away from the Crooks’ home.
“It’s just unbelievable,” he said.
Thome, 71, has been a resident of Bethel Park for over 50 years.
He said he didn’t know Crooks or his family — and he’s not a fan of Trump, as he’s a registered Democrat. He condemned the violence of Saturday.
“I don’t like the guy, but don’t shoot him,” Thome said.
On Sunday morning, Thome said he walked up his street to see the area where media and reporters from around the country were gathered. He said he noticed “a lot of traffic” in the neighborhood.
“Wow, Bethel Park,” Thome said. “Put it in the history book, I guess.”