Donald Trump's Shooter Was A 'Loner', 'Bullied At School': Ex-Classmate

The incident involving Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, has left many in shock. Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Crooks was killed by Secret Service snipers on Saturday after firing multiple shots from a nearby rooftop. Former President Trump, 78, was hit in the ear. A bystander was killed, and two spectators were critically injured.

Background of Thomas Matthew Crooks:

Described by former schoolmates as a "quiet" student who often came across as "lonely," according to ABC News.

Crooks seemed "socially reserved," and a former classmate did not recall hearing him discuss politics or Trump. Jason Kohler, a former classmate, mentioned that Crooks had often been bullied.

"He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much," Kohler said.

Kohler noted that Crooks was made fun of for the way he dressed, particularly for sometimes wearing hunting outfits.

Dan Grzybek, a county council representative, described Crooks' neighborhood as "pretty firmly middle class, maybe upper-middle class," according to The New York Times.

Crooks had been working at a nursing home, which expressed shock at his involvement in the shooting, reported AFP.

Investigators found a "suspicious device" in Crooks' car, which is being analysed by bomb technicians. The gun used in the shooting was an AR-style semi-automatic rifle, legally purchased by Crooks' father.

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, stated there were no indications of any mental health issues or military affiliations for Crooks. The FBI is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt and a potential domestic terrorism act.

The 20-year-old was believed to have acted alone, with no identified ideology or clear political leanings.

News reports indicated he was a registered Republican but had previously donated to a Democratic-aligned progressive political action committee.

The social media platform Discord identified an account linked to Crooks, but found "no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views."

Meanwhile, Thomas' father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN that he was trying to establish "what the hell is going on" before speaking about his son.