Details start to emerge about shooter at Trump rally as investigation continues

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park School District in 2022. Community members said Crooks lived with his parents, according to multiple media reports.

U.S. Secret Service agents killed the 20-year-old Pennsylvania man who targeted former President Donald Trump at a rally on Saturday as investigators continue to search for a motive.

The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the shooter.

Crooks shot at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday evening. Trump was struck in the ear. The former president urged supporters to continue to “fight” as U.S. Secret Service agents moved him from the stage to a waiting vehicle. Trump later called for unity after the shooting.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park School District in 2022. Community members said Crooks lived with his parents, according to multiple media reports.

Crooks crawled on the roof of a manufacturing plant about 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds, The New York Post reported. He fired five to seven shots before he was shot and killed by Secret Service agents.

A local police officer confronted Crooks on the roof shortly before the assassination attempt, the Associated Press reported Sunday. When Crooks pointed his rifle at the officer, the officer retreated, the AP reported. Crooks then began shooting at Trump.

Authorities found an AR-style semi-automatic rifle at the scene. Crooks was wearing a shirt for a gun-focused YouTube channel called Demolition Ranch.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that law enforcement found explosives inside Crooks’ car, which was found parked near the Pennsylvania rally. Bomb technicians were investigating, the Journal reported.

Federal authorities have yet to reveal a motive for the shooting, but are investigating. As the work continues Sunday, investigators have made finding a motive and determining whether the shooter had accomplices top priorities.

Crooks was a registered Republican, according to state voter status records.

The shooter made one $15 donation to the liberal ActBlue political action committee on Jan. 20, 2021, which was Biden’s Inauguration Day, the Intercept reported.

Police have blocked off the streets near Crooks’ house, according to media reports.

Brett Rowland

Investigative Reporter

Related Topics:#BrettRowland #TheCenterSquare ThomasMatthewCrooks TrumpShooter

Up Next

The Pandemic Excuse for a Corporatist Coup

Don't Miss

Former Secret Service agents describe ‘apocalyptic security failure’ at Trump event

Todayville

Todayville is a digital media and technology company. We profile unique stories and events in our community. Register and promote your community event for free.

Follow Author

Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticizes French authorities in first statement after his arrest

Censorship Industrial Complex / 8 hours ago

Canada wants to add DEI measures to globalist WHO pandemic treaty

Education / 9 hours ago

Toronto-area Catholic school hid ‘trans’ identity of 10-year-old girl from her parents

Crime

Officials Arrest Father Of Suspected Georgia School Shooter

Published on September 5, 2024

Todayville

From the Daily Caller News Foundation

By Hailey Gomez

The father of 14-year-old Colt Gray, the suspected shooter at Apalachee High School, was arrested by Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) officials, according to a Thursday press release.

GBI officials announced the arrest of 54-year-old Colin Gray in connection with the Georgia high school shooting on Wednesday, which killed four people and injured nine others. Colin Gray is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to officials.

Colt Gray was arrested Wednesday morning after officials had received calls of a shooting occurring at the high school. GBI Director Chris Hosey and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed during a press conference the 14-year-old had been a student at the school and will be “tried as an adult.”

UPDATE #2 – September 5, 2024:

In coordination with District Attorney Brad Smith, the GBI has arrested Colin Gray, age 54, in connection to the shooting at Apalachee High School. Colin is Colt Gray’s father.

(1/3)

— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) September 5, 2024

Local authorities had made contact with the Gray family in 2023 following anonymous tips to the FBI about alleged threats.

Colin Gray had allegedly bought the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack for his son at a local gun store as a Christmas present, a source told CNN. The timeline provided to officials by the 54-year-old father puts the purchase of the gun allegedly months after officials had first contacted the family to investigate school shooting threats made online, the outlet reported.

The victims of the incident have been identified by GBI officials as 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn, 14-year-old Christian Angulo, 39-year-old Richard Aspinwall and 53-year-old Christina Irimie.

Crime

Hunter Biden pleads guilty to tax charges, avoids public trial

Published on September 5, 2024

Todayville

From The Center Square

By Kenneth Schrupp

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty under an Alford plea, in which one maintains one’s innocence while admitting the prosecution has enough evidence to find one guilty.

Hunter Biden, the sole surviving son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty Thursday in Los Angeles to avoid a trial on nine federal tax charges that include three felonies and six misdemeanors.

The charges involve failing to file and pay $1.4 million in taxes, filing falsely, and claiming false and fraudulent business deductions.

The House Oversight Committee found the Biden family and associates received more than $20 million from overseas, including entities in China and Russia. The indictment alleges Hunter Biden spent this money on drugs and prostitutes while not paying taxes.

“Between 2016 and October 15, 2020, the Defendant spent this money on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes,” the indictment said.

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty under an Alford plea, in which one maintains one’s innocence while admitting the prosecution has enough evidence to find one guilty. This is different from a nolo contendere plea, which unlike the Alford plea does not require special court approval, and is often entered in which the defendant neither admits or disputes the charges. While a nolo contendere plea is often viewed as a tacit admission of guilt, the Alford plea is viewed as a relatively lesser admission of guilt. Hunter Biden now avoids a public trial that would involve witnesses detailing his life during the period in which he allegedly committed tax fraud.

Hunter Biden was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for securities fraud under the Trump administration, and was found guilty of felony gun charges for lying about his drug use on a gun purchase form and possessed a firearm while using illicit drugs. Hunter Biden is set to be sentenced for his gun charges, for which he can face up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, on November 13, a week after the 2024 presidential election.