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{{See also|Assassination attempt on Trump}}

{{See also|Assassination attempt on Trump}}

[[File:Thomas Matthew Crooks Blackrock.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Thomas Matthew Crooks gunman at Trump Rally appearing in 2022 [[BlackRock]] video.<ref>[https://youtu.be/p0EBvH8zIKI Trump Rally Gunman - Thomas Matthew Crooks - in BlackRock Promotional Video], This is the President, Jul 14, 2024. YouTube</ref>]]

[[File:Thomas Matthew Crooks Blackrock.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Thomas Matthew Crooks gunman at Trump Rally appearing in 2022 [[BlackRock]] video.<ref>[https://youtu.be/p0EBvH8zIKI Trump Rally Gunman - Thomas Matthew Crooks - in BlackRock Promotional Video], This is the President, Jul 14, 2024. YouTube</ref>]]

'''Thomas Matthew Crooks''' (2004-2024) was an American college student identified as a shooter in the [[Assassination attempt on President Donald Trump]] in Butler, [[Pennsylvania]] on July 13, 2024 while campaigning for the [[2024 United States presidential election]].<ref>[https://nypost.com/2024/07/13/us-news/thomas-matthew-crooks-idd-as-gunman-who-shot-trump-during-pa-rally/ Thomas Matthew Crooks ID’d as the gunman who shot Trump during Pa. rally]. By Joe Marino and Katherine Donlevy. ''[[NY Post]]''. Published July 13, 2024, 11:39 p.m. ET</ref><ref>[https://www.businesstoday.in/world/us/story/donald-trump-assassination-bid-who-is-thomas-matthew-crooks-the-20-year-old-suspected-shooter-437085-2024-07-14 Donald Trump assassination bid: Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspected shooter? Crooks' shots injured Trump, grazing his ear, and tragically claimed the life of an innocent bystander while critically wounding two others].</ref>  

'''Thomas Matthew Crooks''' (2004–2024) was an American college student identified as a shooter in the [[Assassination attempt on President Donald Trump]] in Butler, [[Pennsylvania]] on July 13, 2024, while campaigning for the [[2024 United States presidential election]].<ref>[https://nypost.com/2024/07/13/us-news/thomas-matthew-crooks-idd-as-gunman-who-shot-trump-during-pa-rally/ Thomas Matthew Crooks ID’d as the gunman who shot Trump during Pa. rally]. By Joe Marino and Katherine Donlevy. ''[[NY Post]]''. Published July 13, 2024, 11:39 p.m. ET</ref><ref>[https://www.businesstoday.in/world/us/story/donald-trump-assassination-bid-who-is-thomas-matthew-crooks-the-20-year-old-suspected-shooter-437085-2024-07-14 Donald Trump assassination bid: Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspected shooter? Crooks' shots injured Trump, grazing his ear, and tragically claimed the life of an innocent bystander while critically wounding two others].</ref>  

==Education and background==

==Education and background==

{{cquote|[T]he 20-year-old gunman once mocked him over his support of former President Donald Trump and had a general disdain for mainstream politicians across the political aisle.

{{cquote|[T]he 20-year-old gunman once mocked him over his support of former President Donald Trump and had a general disdain for mainstream politicians across the political aisle.

"I brought up the fact that I'm [[Hispanic]] and, you know, I'm for Trump. And he said, 'Well, you're Hispanic, so shouldn't you hate Trump?'" Vincent Taormina told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "No. He's great. He was a great president. He called me stupid – or insinuated that I was stupid."<ref> [https://www.aol.com/news/former-classmate-recalls-trump-shooter-080043511.html Former classmate recalls Trump shooter grilling him over support for former POTUS: 'Did not like politicians']. Michael Ruiz, ''Fox News'', July 17, 2024</ref>}}

"I brought up the fact that I'm [[Hispanic]] and, you know, I'm for Trump. And he said, 'Well, you're Hispanic, so shouldn't you hate Trump?'" Vincent Taormina told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "No. He's great. He was a great president. He called me stupid – or insinuated that I was stupid."<ref>[https://www.aol.com/news/former-classmate-recalls-trump-shooter-080043511.html Former classmate recalls Trump shooter grilling him over support for former POTUS: 'Did not like politicians']. Michael Ruiz, ''Fox News'', July 17, 2024</ref>}}

The ''Epoch Times'' reported that Bethel Park High School refuted claims that Crooks had been a member of the school's shooting team or that he was the victim of [[bullying]].<ref>[https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-shooter-wasnt-a-member-of-rifle-team-and-wasnt-bullied-school-says-5691115 Trump Shooter Wasn’t a Member of Rifle Team and Wasn’t Bullied, School Says], By Jack Phillips, ''[[The Epoch Times]]'', 7/21/2024. theepochtimes.com</ref>

The ''Epoch Times'' reported that Bethel Park High School refuted claims that Crooks had been a member of the school's shooting team or that he was the victim of [[bullying]].<ref>[https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-shooter-wasnt-a-member-of-rifle-team-and-wasnt-bullied-school-says-5691115 Trump Shooter Wasn’t a Member of Rifle Team and Wasn’t Bullied, School Says], By Jack Phillips, ''[[The Epoch Times]]'', 7/21/2024. theepochtimes.com</ref>