Highlights

"He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much," a student who attended school with Crooks said.

Latest news

Piyush Goyal to inaugurate Asian Productivity Organization meeting in Delhi; member nations to discuss Vision 2030, budget & reforms

Piyush Goyal to inaugurate Asian Productivity Organization meeting in Delhi; member nations to discuss Vision 2030, budget & reforms

GoCredit's TARA AI Labs Releases BASIC: India's First AI Engine for Credit Score Improvement

GoCredit's TARA AI Labs Releases BASIC: India's First AI Engine for Credit Score Improvement

Producer Chanda Patel's 'Tera Mera Nata' Receives Huge Applause at 79th Cannes Film Festival

Producer Chanda Patel's 'Tera Mera Nata' Receives Huge Applause at 79th Cannes Film Festival

Baazar Style Retail Delivers Strong FY26 Performance with 37% Revenue Growth

Baazar Style Retail Delivers Strong FY26 Performance with 37% Revenue Growth

India may need over 60 GW energy storage capacity by 2030 to support clean energy transition: Report

India may need over 60 GW energy storage capacity by 2030 to support clean energy transition: Report

Comviva recognized in the 2026 Gartner® Market Guide for Digital Commerce Payment Platforms

Comviva recognized in the 2026 Gartner® Market Guide for Digital Commerce Payment Platforms

India, IFAD expand partnership to boost rural investment and livelihoods

India, IFAD expand partnership to boost rural investment and livelihoods

AI will destroy some jobs and create new ones, says HSBC CEO

AI will destroy some jobs and create new ones, says HSBC CEO

Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump shooter?

The shooter was believed to be working alone, according to the FBI, and officials said they have not identified an ideology associated with him.

Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump shooter?

A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, has been identified as the suspected shooter who tried to assassinate former president Donald Trump at a campaign rally this weekend.

Secret Service snipers killed Crooks on Saturday after he fired multiple shots at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, from a nearby rooftop.

As authorities seek to understand his motivations, here is what we know of the alleged gunman:

'Quiet'

Crooks' former schoolmates described him as a "quiet" student who often came across as "lonely," ABC News reported.

He seemed "socially reserved," but a former schoolmate did not recall hearing him discuss politics or Trump.

Trump, 78, was hit in the ear at the rally. A bystander was killed and two spectators critically injured.

Jason Kohler, who said he attended school with Crooks, recalled that the alleged shooter had often been bullied.

"He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much," Kohler told reporters.

He said Crooks had been made fun of for the way he dressed, noting that he would sometimes wear hunting outfits.

Dan Grzybek, a county council representative in the area where Crooks grew up, said the neighborhood was "pretty firmly middle class, maybe upper-middle class," according to The New York Times.

The Times added that Crooks had been working at a nursing home, and the organization was shocked to hear of his involvement in the shooting.

No military ties

Following the incident, investigators found a "suspicious device" in Crooks' car, which was inspected by bomb technicians and is being analyzed.

They noted that suspected explosive devices have been collected as evidence.

Authorities are now in the process of searching Crooks' phone.

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, told reporters Sunday that the gun used in the shooting was an AR-style semi-automatic rifle which was purchased legally.

Investigators believe the weapon was purchased by Crooks' father.

Rojek added that there were no indications so far of any mental health issues.

Crooks also did not have military affiliations, according to Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.

The FBI told reporters that they are investigating the incident as an assassination attempt and also a potential domestic terrorism act.

Acted alone

The shooter was believed to be working alone, according to the FBI, and officials said they have not identified an ideology associated with him.

His political leanings were not instantly clear.

News reports indicated he was a registered Republican, but also noted that he previously gave money to a Democratic-aligned progressive political action committee.

While social media platform Discordetha said it had identified an account that appeared linked to the suspect, this was "rarely utilized."

A spokesperson added that "we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views."

The suspect's father Matthew Crooks on Saturday told CNN that he was trying to establish "what the hell is going on" before speaking about his son.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up Next

Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump shooter?

Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump shooter?

PM Modi calls for peaceful resolution of conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine

PM Modi calls for peaceful resolution of conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine

Trump arrives in China for superpower summit with Xi Jinping

Trump arrives in China for superpower summit with Xi Jinping

Trump orders US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

Trump orders US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

India is a great country: Trump after controversial social media repost

India is a great country: Trump after controversial social media repost

Trump says Iran violated truce as doubt surrounds peace talks

Trump says Iran violated truce as doubt surrounds peace talks

ADVERTISEMENT

editorji-whatsApp

More videos

Iran says 'no decision' yet on joining new round of US peace talks

Iran says 'no decision' yet on joining new round of US peace talks

US to blockade Iran ports 'as long as it takes': Pentagon chief

US to blockade Iran ports 'as long as it takes': Pentagon chief

Israel vows to fight on as Iran warns ceasefire talks at risk

Israel vows to fight on as Iran warns ceasefire talks at risk

Trump says 'no enrichment' of uranium in Iran

Trump says 'no enrichment' of uranium in Iran

Pakistan to host US-Iran ceasefire talks on Friday

Pakistan to host US-Iran ceasefire talks on Friday

Iran hits Gulf states after agreeing 'fragile' truce with US

Iran hits Gulf states after agreeing 'fragile' truce with US

Trump warns 'whole civilization will die' in Iran if ultimatum expires

Trump warns 'whole civilization will die' in Iran if ultimatum expires

Trump threatens to destroy Iran oil island despite price surge

Trump threatens to destroy Iran oil island despite price surge

Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah becomes Nepal’s youngest democratically elected PM

Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah becomes Nepal’s youngest democratically elected PM

Iran warns civilians as Trump says talks 'going well'

Iran warns civilians as Trump says talks 'going well'

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.