the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in a shocking turn of events, a 20-year-old nursing-home employee from suburban Pittsburgh attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Information is updating quickly but this is what we know so far, this individual, Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was a registered Republican who had packed explosives in the vehicle he drove to the campaign rally, located an hour from his home.
Law enforcement officials are working tirelessly to uncover what motivated Crooks to open fire on the rally from a nearby rooftop. His actions resulted in the tragic death of one spectator before he was shot dead by the Secret Service.
Key Details
- Suspect: Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
- Incident: Attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally.
- Casualties: One spectator killed, two critically injured.
- Outcome: Crooks was shot dead by the Secret Service.
Investigation and Background
The FBI has not yet found any threatening writings or social media posts from Crooks. Public court records reveal no past criminal cases against him. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, where he received an award for math and science.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, revealed that the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. The man killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who Pennsylvania’s governor hailed as a hero for protecting his family during the attack.
Crooks’ family has not responded to media inquiries. His father, Matthew Crooks, expressed confusion and refused to comment further until he spoke with law enforcement.
Crooks’ Life and Background
In high school, Crooks was reportedly bullied and often sat alone at lunch, mocked for his attire. He worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home, a job involving food preparation. The nursing home’s administrator, Marcie Grimm, expressed shock and sadness over his involvement in the incident, noting he had a clean background check when hired.
Crooks’ political leanings are unclear. He was registered as a Republican but also donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on the day President Joe Biden was sworn in.
Community and Law Enforcement Response
Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger confirmed that Crooks was previously unknown to investigators and had not coordinated with anyone else in the region. A blockade was set up near Crooks’ house in Bethel Park, where police cars and officers were stationed.
Bomb-making materials were found in Crooks’ vehicle near the rally site and at his home. An AR-style rifle was recovered at the shooting scene, believed to have been purchased by Crooks’ father at least six months ago. Federal agents are investigating how and when Crooks obtained the weapon.
The Incident
An analysis of videos and photos from the Trump rally shows Crooks was able to get close to the stage. A video posted to social media shows Crooks lying motionless on the roof of a manufacturing plant near the rally site, wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a popular YouTube channel featuring firearms.
The roof where Crooks lay was less than 150 meters from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a competent marksman could reasonably hit a human-sized target. The distance is comparable to the range at which U.S. Army recruits must qualify with the M-16 rifle.
Final Thoughts
The attempted assassination of former President Trump has left the nation in shock and mourning. As investigators work to uncover the motivations behind this tragic event, the community grapples with the loss of a local hero and the disturbing actions of a young man with no prior criminal history. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the profound impact of mental health and social issues in our society.
Anyone with a mullet hair style is a low life
the thumbs down must be those who lives in trailer parks
Don’t be more horrified by this than the killing of children in schools or ordinary citizens going about their lives.
Gun control anyone?
Agreed
Gun control will do nothing
Criminals dont obey laws.
How many murderers and shooters in the lovely inner cities full of violence legally obtain weapons.. NONE
Ask the Jews in germany how gun control worked out for them
hitler disarmed them before he killed millions in the holocust
never again!
Why don’t we continue to glorify people like this by giving them publicity, the better to encourage more?
I have a photo which best indicates the outcome but it would not be accepted here.
The action of one troubled young man does not change my opinion for this election
” He was registered as a Republican but also donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on the day President Joe Biden was sworn in.”
Nope, already debunked. Different guy.
Let’s see what happens to his parents, that gun should’ve been locked up along with the ammo.