The story of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate former President Trump, is slowly unfolding as more details about his life and background emerge. Former classmates have come forward to share their impressions of Crooks, painting a picture of a quiet loner who was often bullied and mocked during his time at Bethel Park High School in Pennsylvania.
Jason Kohler, who attended the same high school as Crooks, described him as an “outcast” who was always alone and bullied on a daily basis. Other classmates, like Julianna Grooms, recalled Crooks dressing in camouflage or hunting attire and interacting awkwardly with others. Despite these descriptions, some classmates, like Mark Sigafoos, remember Crooks as a kind and helpful individual who never outwardly expressed any extreme views or intentions.
As investigators continue to piece together Crooks’ motive for the assassination attempt, his former classmates are left shocked and bewildered by his actions. Max R. Smith, who took an American History course with Crooks, remembered him as a conservative individual who stood his ground on his beliefs, but never displayed any violent tendencies.
Crooks’ employment history also sheds light on his background, as he worked as a dietary aide at a state-licensed transitional facility before the incident. Despite his troubled past, Crooks’ actions have left those who knew him in disbelief, with many struggling to reconcile the quiet, nerdy student they once knew with the would-be assassin who targeted a former president.
The investigation into Crooks’ background and motives continues, with authorities looking into his affiliations with gun clubs and online platforms. As more details emerge, the community of Bethel Park and beyond grapples with the shocking revelation of a former classmate turned would-be assassin.
