Thomas Matthew Crooks (September 20, 2003[1] – July 13, 2024)[2] was an American man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States and presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election. On July 13, 2024, during a Trump speech at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle to fire eight rounds from a rooftop around 400 feet (122 m) north of the stage. He wounded Trump on the right ear, killed an audience member, and critically injured two others. He was killed by a Secret Service Counter Assault Team sniper immediately after the shooting.[3][4]

Thomas Matthew Crooks
Born(2003-09-20)September 20, 2003
DiedJuly 13, 2024(2024-07-13) (aged 20)
EducationBethel Park High School

Biography

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Thomas Matthew Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[5] Crooks attended Bethel Park High School and graduated in 2022.[6][7] He received a $500 "star award" the same year from the National Math and Science Initiative.[4]

It is believed that on January 20, 2021, at the age of 17, he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a liberal voter turnout group, through the Democratic Party donation platform ActBlue, an organization dedicated to improving turnout among Democratic Party voters.[6][7][4]

Crooks was a registered Republican,[8][9][10][4] and his voter registration was active since September 2021, the month he turned 18.[8]

On July 14, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified him as the shooter behind the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Crooks was killed by a rifleman from the United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team.[11][7] He had no known criminal record.[8][12] Photos of Crooks's body showed him wearing a shirt that appeared to be merchandise from Demolition Ranch, a YouTube channel popularizing firearms and gun culture.[12][2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cann, Kenny Jacoby and Christopher. "Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks identified: What we know". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Trump rally shooting: Ex-president injured in assassination attempt at rally that leaves spectator and gunman dead". Sky News. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Layne, Nathan; Mcdermid, Brendan; Mason, Jeff (July 14, 2024). "Trump survives assassination attempt at campaign rally after major security lapse". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Healy, Jack; Baker, Mike; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Benner, Katie (July 14, 2024), "Here's What Is Known About the Suspected Gunman", New York Times, ISSN 0362-4331, archived from the original on July 14, 2024, retrieved July 14, 2024
  5. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (July 14, 2024). "FBI names suspect, 20, as 'subject involved' in Trump rally shooting". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Josefczyk, Aaron; Ward, Jasper; Singh, Kanishka (July 14, 2024). "Here's what we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump rally shooter". Reuters. Retrieved July 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b c McArthur, Tom (July 14, 2024). "Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about Donald Trump shooting suspect". BBC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Jacoby, Kenny; Cann, Christopher (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks identified: What we know". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Reilly, Ryan J.; O'Donnell, Kelly; Winter, Tom; Dienst, Jonathan (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter identified as 20-year-old Pennsylvania man". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "FBI Identifies Thomas Matthew Crooks as 'Subject Involved' in Trump Rally Shooting". US News & World Report. Reuters. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Watson, Kathryn (July 14, 2024). "Trump says bullet "pierced the upper part of my right ear" when shots were fired at Pennsylvania rally". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Kilner, James (July 14, 2024). "Thomas Matthew Crooks: Who was the Donald Trump shooting suspect?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.