Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The incident, which ended with Crooks being shot dead by Secret Service agents, has left investigators and the public grappling with unanswered questions about his motive. Despite extensive investigations, the reasons behind Crooks' actions remain shrouded in mystery.
An insider revealed the enigmatic nature of Crooks, describing him as a "ghost who kept to himself." The source added, "It's likely we'll never know for sure what drove this young man to try to commit a historic murder." Crooks had a sparse social media presence and, intriguingly, had registered as a Republican while also donating about $15 to a liberal political action committee. This contradictory behavior has further puzzled those trying to piece together his motives.
The deadly encounter left one audience member dead and two others wounded. Crooks, who was armed with an AR-style rifle, was found with a bullet-proof vest and remote control detonators in his pocket, indicating he was prepared to cause further havoc. Two remote-controlled bombs were later discovered in his vehicle.
Speculation about Crooks' motive has ranged widely. Some reports suggest that Crooks was bullied by his former classmates at Bethel Park High School. He was portrayed as an "outcast" who was relentlessly picked on, possibly fueling his rage. However, this theory is not universally accepted. Retired school counselor Jim Knapp, who worked at Bethel Park High for 30 years, did not recall Crooks being bullied. He described Crooks as a "quiet young man" with a small group of friends and stated, "In Thomas' case, he would always say, 'Hey, Mr. Knapp. I'm good, it's good to see you,' and then I'd move on. But he was fine."
Sarah D'Angelo, a former classmate, also refuted the bullying claims, stating, "There were a few people that were more violent in school. He was not one of those kids." Conversely, another ex-classmate, Mason Ripley, remembered Crooks being mocked for wearing hunting gear, which he described as "a bit weird."
The FBI has labeled the attempted assassination as "an act of domestic terrorism." Robert Wells, assistant director of the FBI counter-terrorism division, announced this classification, emphasizing the severity of Crooks' actions.
Crooks' father, Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, has remained largely silent on the matter. In his first media interaction, he stated that the family is trying to take care of themselves and needs "space." He added, "We're going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so - until then, we have no comment."
The weapon used by Thomas was registered in his father's name, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation. Despite Crooks' online searches related to major depressive disorder, there is no firm evidence indicating he was suffering from a mental disorder. Former FBI terrorism task force supervisor Michael McKeown suggested that Crooks might have chosen violence over seeking mental health counseling.
As details continue to emerge, the motive behind Crooks' attempt to assassinate Trump remains elusive. The incident has sparked widespread speculation and concern about the factors that could drive someone to such extreme actions. With the motive likely to remain a mystery, this tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the unpredictable nature of domestic terrorism and the challenges in understanding the minds of those who commit such acts.
