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== Attempted assassination of Donald Trump ==
== Attempted assassination of Donald Trump ==
On July 14, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] identified him as the shooter behind the [[attempted assassination of Donald Trump]]. The rifle used by Crooks had been legally purchased by his father, according to law enforcement sources.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yasmin |first1=Shahana |last2=Rohrlich |first2=Justin |title=What we know about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at Trump at his Pennsylvania rally |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-donald-trump-pennsylvania-shooting-b2579477.html |access-date=14 July 2024 |website=The Independent}}</ref> Crooks was killed by a rifleman from the [[Secret Service Counter Assault Team|United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team]].<ref name="Healy-2024" /><ref name="McArthur-2024" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Watson |first=Kathryn |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump says bullet "pierced the upper part of my right ear" when shots were fired at Pennsylvania rally |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-shots-pierced-injured-ear-rally-pennsylvania/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=CBS News |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714014754/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-shots-pierced-injured-ear-rally-pennsylvania/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Layne, Nathan |author2=Mcdermid, Brendan |author3=Mason, Jeff |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump survives assassination attempt at campaign rally after major security lapse |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-shooting-raises-questions-about-security-lapses-2024-07-14/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.today/2024.07.14-071418/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-shooting-raises-questions-about-security-lapses-2024-07-14/ |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> 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 cultures|gun culture]].<ref name="Kilner-2024" /><ref name="Sky News-2024">{{Cite web |title=Trump rally shooting: Ex-president injured in assassination attempt at rally that leaves spectator and gunman dead |url=https://news.sky.com/story/shots-fired-at-donald-trump-rally-as-former-president-rushed-off-stage-13177651 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222236/https://news.sky.com/story/shots-fired-at-donald-trump-rally-as-former-president-rushed-off-stage-13177651 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=Sky News}}</ref> Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home.<ref name="apnews"/> During the assassination attempt, Crooks shot three adult male rally-goers,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chowdhury |first=Tori B. Powell, Shania Shelton, Matt Meyer, Isabelle D'Antonio, Emma Tucker, Jessie Yeung, Dalia Faheid, Amarachi Orie, Michelle Shen, Michael Williams, Maureen |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Live updates: Trump survives assassination attempt &#124; CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-biden-trump-07-13-24/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222828/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-biden-trump-07-13-24/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> leaving one person, identified as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, dead and two critically injured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Update from Michael Gold |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713223053/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On July 14, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] identified Crooks as the shooter behind the [[attempted assassination of Donald Trump]]. Crooks shot Trump in the upper right ear at a campaign rally near [[Butler, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Biden condemns 'sick' attempt on Trump's life |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98qnvn8dzeo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714184148/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98qnvn8dzeo |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> He also shot three adult male audience members,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chowdhury |first=Tori B. Powell, Shania Shelton, Matt Meyer, Isabelle D'Antonio, Emma Tucker, Jessie Yeung, Dalia Faheid, Amarachi Orie, Michelle Shen, Michael Williams, Maureen |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Live updates: Trump survives assassination attempt &#124; CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-biden-trump-07-13-24/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222828/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-biden-trump-07-13-24/index.html |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=CNN}}</ref> killing 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and critically injuring two others.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Update from Michael Gold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713223053/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/us/biden-trump-election |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The rifle used by Crooks had been legally purchased by his father, according to law enforcement sources.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yasmin |first1=Shahana |last2=Rohrlich |first2=Justin |title=What we know about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at Trump at his Pennsylvania rally |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-donald-trump-pennsylvania-shooting-b2579477.html |access-date=14 July 2024 |website=The Independent}}</ref>

Crooks was killed by a rifleman from the [[Secret Service Counter Assault Team|United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team]].<ref name="Healy-2024" /><ref name="McArthur-2024" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Watson |first=Kathryn |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump says bullet "pierced the upper part of my right ear" when shots were fired at Pennsylvania rally |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-shots-pierced-injured-ear-rally-pennsylvania/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=CBS News |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714014754/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-shots-pierced-injured-ear-rally-pennsylvania/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Layne, Nathan |author2=Mcdermid, Brendan |author3=Mason, Jeff |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Trump survives assassination attempt at campaign rally after major security lapse |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-shooting-raises-questions-about-security-lapses-2024-07-14/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.today/2024.07.14-071418/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-shooting-raises-questions-about-security-lapses-2024-07-14/ |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> 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 cultures|gun culture]].<ref name="Kilner-2024" /><ref name="Sky News-2024">{{Cite web |title=Trump rally shooting: Ex-president injured in assassination attempt at rally that leaves spectator and gunman dead |url=https://news.sky.com/story/shots-fired-at-donald-trump-rally-as-former-president-rushed-off-stage-13177651 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222236/https://news.sky.com/story/shots-fired-at-donald-trump-rally-as-former-president-rushed-off-stage-13177651 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=Sky News}}</ref> Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home.<ref name="apnews" />


== Political views ==
== Political views ==

Revision as of 20:04, 14 July 2024

Thomas Matthew Crooks
File:Thomas Matthew Crooks.png
Driver's license photograph of Crooks, c. 2021
Born(2003-09-20)September 20, 2003
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 2024(2024-07-13) (aged 20)
Near Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
EducationBethel Park High School
Known forAttempted assassination of Donald Trump
Political partyRepublican[1][2][3][4]

Thomas Matthew Crooks (September 20, 2003 – July 13, 2024) 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.

Crooks was born in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania to a middle-class and politically diverse family. He graduated from Bethel Park High School, where he was characterized by many as intelligent but quiet. Crooks was a registered Republican and described as right-leaning, though at one point donated to a Democratic-aligned political action committee.

On July 14, 2024, Brooks attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He injured Trump and two attendees, and killed one attendee. He was subsequently killed by the Secret Service Counter Assault Team.

Early life and education

Thomas Matthew Crooks was born on September 20, 2003,[1] in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[5] The neighborhood he lived in was described as "middle-class, maybe upper-middle class".[6] Both of his parents worked as licensed social workers.[7][8]

Crooks attended Bethel Park High School, where he was known as an above-average student, and graduated in 2022.[9][8] Classmates and school officials characterized him as quiet, with classmates claiming he was often bullied.[10][8][2] One former classmate described him as "incredibly intelligent".[6] He received a $500 "star award" the same year from the National Math and Science Initiative.[3][8]

Crooks worked as a kitchen worker in a local nursing home.[11][6] He had no known criminal record.[1][12] The Pentagon found that he had no history of military service.[13]

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

On July 14, the FBI identified Crooks as the shooter behind the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Crooks shot Trump in the upper right ear at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.[14] He also shot three adult male audience members,[15] killing 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and critically injuring two others.[16] The rifle used by Crooks had been legally purchased by his father, according to law enforcement sources.[17]

Crooks was killed by a rifleman from the United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team.[3][11][18][19] 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][20] Bomb-making materials were found inside his vehicle and at his home.[21]

Political views

According to a local politician who met Crooks's parents while canvassing, his mother was a Democrat and his father a Libertarian. The politician described the family as a "large spattering of different backgrounds and ideals".[6]

Crooks was a registered Republican,[1][2][22][3] and his voter registration was active since September 2021, the month he turned 18.[1] A former classmate of Crooks described him as "slightly right leaning".[6] Officials say he had only voted in the 2022 midterm elections.[7]

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.[9][11][3][23] His donation was made the same day Joe Biden was sworn into office.[8][24] According to the Progressive Turnout Project, he made the donation in response to an e-mail about "tuning into" the inauguration and was unsubscribed from the group's mailing list in 2022.[24][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jacoby, Kenny; Cann, Christopher; Le Coz, Emily; Bhat, Suhail (July 14, 2024). "Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks identified: What we know". USA Today. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c 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.
  3. ^ a b c d e Healy, Jack; Baker, Mike; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Benner, Katie (July 14, 2024), "Here's What Is Known About the Suspected Gunman", The New York Times, archived from the original on July 14, 2024
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference usnews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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 c d e Robertson, Campbell; Healy, Jack; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Thrush, Glenn (July 14, 2024). "Here's What Is Known About the Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Devine, Danny Freeman, Holmes Lybrand, Casey Tolan, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Curt (July 14, 2024). "What we know about the Trump rally gunman so far". CNN. Retrieved July 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e Deto, Ryan (July 14, 2024). "Who is Thomas Crooks, the alleged gunman in the Trump shooting?". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Jacoby, Kenny; Cann, Christopher; Le Coz, Emily; Bhat, Suhail (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.
  11. ^ 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.
  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.
  13. ^ Copp, Tara (July 14, 2024). "Military has no records of shooter in apparent Trump assassination attempt serving". The Associated Press.
  14. ^ "Biden condemns 'sick' attempt on Trump's life". BBC. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Chowdhury, Tori B. Powell, Shania Shelton, Matt Meyer, Isabelle D'Antonio, Emma Tucker, Jessie Yeung, Dalia Faheid, Amarachi Orie, Michelle Shen, Michael Williams, Maureen (July 13, 2024). "Live updates: Trump survives assassination attempt | CNN Politics". CNN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Update from Michael Gold". The New York Times. July 13, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Yasmin, Shahana; Rohrlich, Justin. "What we know about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at Trump at his Pennsylvania rally". The Independent. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Trump rally shooting: Ex-president injured in assassination attempt at rally that leaves spectator and gunman dead". Sky News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference apnews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ "FBI Identifies Thomas Matthew Crooks as 'Subject Involved' in Trump Rally Shooting". US News & World Report. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  23. ^ Josefczyk, Aaron; Ward, Jasper; Singh, Kanishka (July 14, 2024). "Trump's shooter was a registered Republican, had donated to a Democratic PAC". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Grim, Ryan. "Trump's shooter gave $15 to a "progressive" PAC — but there's more to the story". Drop Site News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024.
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