Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks' father breaks silence: ‘We just want to try to…’

The father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who tried to assassinate Donald Trump, has spoken out days after the shooting at the Pennsylvania rally.

Published on: Jul 24, 2024, 09:49:18 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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The father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump, has broken his silence days after the shooting at the Pennsylvania rally. Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, has revealed that the family is just trying to “take care of ourselves.” His son was killed by Secret Service Snipers.

Thomas Matthew Crooks' (pictured) father breaks silence (The Bethel Park School District via AP) (AP)

Matthew made the remarks while leaving a grocery store on Monday, July 22, Fox News reported. “We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space,” Matthew said.

“We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so – until then, we have no comment,” he added.

As per reports, Matthew previously simply said he is trying to understand "what the hell is going on,” declining to provide any more details. He said he wanted to "wait until I talk to law enforcement" before commenting.

The rifle Crooks used to carry out the shooting was purchased by Matthew, who is a registered Libertarian. Crooks’ family has been coordinating in the investigation, which is ongoing. A motive has yet to be revealed by feds.

In Crooks’ phone, investigators found photos of Trump, Joe Biden and other senior government officials. He also searched dates for the Democratic National Convention, and looked up the former president’s appearances.

Thomas Matthew Crooks’ school denies claims he was bullied

Meanwhile, the high school Crooks attended denied claims that he was bullied, and that he tried out for the school’s rifle team, and threatened to shoot up the school. Crooks’ classmates previously alleged that he was “relentlessly” bullied at school. Bethel Park High School, however, dismissed the “painful misconception” that he was a victim of bullying.

Crooks opened fire at the rally, wounding Trump and two others. He killed firefighter Corey Comperatore before being killed by snipers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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