The father of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks reportedly said he is trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” as his son was identified as former President Donald Trump’s attempted assassin.
Matthew Crooks wouldn’t provide details about his son and wanted to “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before speaking out on the horrific shooting, the elder Crooks told CNN on Saturday night.
Thomas Crooks was shot and killed after he opened fire at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who tried to assassinate Donald Trump. Obtained by NY Post
Officers stand over the shooter in Butler, Pa., after former President Donald Trump was shot. Obtained by NY Post
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. AP
Crooks’ bullet grazed the 45th president’s right ear as he killed a male spectator and critically injured two others.
Crooks had set himself up on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage.
A counter-sniper team, which sources told The Post killed the shooter, returned fire from the roof of another building close to where Trump was located — behind the audience stands.
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
- Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’
- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
The would-be assassin was a registered Republican but donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project in 2021, a Democrat-aligned political action committee.
Everything we know about the Trump assassination attempt
- 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
- Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
- The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
- Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
- Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
- Trump exclusively recounted surviving the “surreal” assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
- High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act.”
Records indicate Crooks lived in the town of Bethel Park, Pa., approximately 45 miles south of the Butler Farm Show grounds where the shooting took place.
