Donald Trump, the former president and Republican candidate, was bloodied and whisked off stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. An assassin’s bullet grazed his ear, throwing the rally into chaos. Trump, 78, was saved by the swift action of Secret Service agents, but the scene left a mark on the nation’s psyche. The gunman and a bystander died, while two others were critically injured.
The FBI has cracked the phone of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter. Agents are now sifting through his electronic devices, searching for clues to his motive. The agency has scoured his home and vehicle, conducted over 100 interviews, and received many digital media tips. The investigation is thorough, yet the motive remains elusive.
On the day of the attack, Crooks took an elevated position and fired his rifle, hitting Trump and wounding two rally-goers, one fatally. Crooks, a registered Republican, had once donated to the Progressive Turnout Project. His father alerted the police after noticing his son and three rifles missing. A Secret Service sniper ended the rampage, killing Crooks.
Crooks’ former classmates from Bethel Park High School are baffled. Jameson Myers, a past friend, never saw this coming. Crooks had tried out for the rifle team but didn’t make it. Jason Koehler recalls Crooks being bullied and wearing a mask post-COVID-19. Mark Sigafoos, who shared classes with Crooks, remembers him as smart and nerdy but harmless.
The FBI continues its investigation, piecing together the fragments of a troubled young man’s final act of violence. The nation watches, anxious for answers and grappling with the unease of a fractured political landscape.
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