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Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, was reportedly a bullied loner with an affinity for hunting outfits and video games.
Crooks, a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School, was described as a reserved individual who was often the target of relentless bullying.
His classmate Jason Kohler recalled Crooks’ distinctive hunting attire, a stark reminder of his isolation. "He was known for wearing hunting outfits to class," Kohler was quoted as saying in an NBC TV report.
Crooks' political affiliations painted a picture of a conflicted young man. Despite a donation to the liberal ActBlue on President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day in 2021, Crooks registered as a Republican when he turned 18. Former classmates expressed surprise at his political leanings. "He didn’t seem like really weird or anything. I would have pegged him as a Republican," one classmate told a TV channel.
Sarah D’Angelo, a Bethel Park High graduate, said: "He never outwardly spoke about his political views or how much he hated Trump or anything."