(Photo by Nicholas kamm for AFP)
Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on July 13th while addressing a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was swiftly apprehended by the Secret Service before inflicting further harm. As authorities delve into the motives behind the shocking event, Fox News Digital managed to approach Matthew Crooks, the father of the deceased gunman, who declined to comment.
“We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so – until then, we have no comment,” Matthew Crooks told Fox News Digital. “We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space.”
Matthew was sighted with a masked woman in the parking lot of a grocery center, where they loaded their belongings into a car amidst media scrutiny. The FBI has been collaborating with Crooks’ family as part of their investigation into Thomas Crooks’ actions. Matthew and his wife Mary, both professional counselors, have reportedly been cooperative thus far.
Fox News Digital also reported that the Crooks had notified local authorities about their son’s sudden disappearance hours before the assassination attempt. However, it remains unclear if they were aware that Thomas was in possession of his father’s AR-15 rifle at the time.
As per Reuters, Thomas Crooks, a recent graduate with an associate’s degree in engineering, had plans to attend either the University of Pittsburgh or Robert Morris University. Prior to the incident, he had been observed using a rangefinder, raising questions about how he evaded authorities to position himself on a rooftop overlooking Trump’s rally.
Investigators revealed that despite Crooks’ registration as a Republican, he had donated to a Democratic campaign in 2021, indicating varied political leanings within his family. His father, Matthew, is registered as a Libertarian and is a member of a local firearms club, while his mother is a registered Democrat.
The FBI, ruling out any evidence of mental health issues or threatening social media posts, believes Crooks acted alone during the assassination attempt. Positioned approximately 150 yards away, he fired shots from the AR-15 rifle, injuring two bystanders and grazing Trump’s ear. Tragically, a fifty-year-old man was killed by Crooks’ gunfire.
Authorities are treating the incident as both an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism, underscoring the severity of the situation and the ongoing investigation into Thomas Crooks’ motives and actions. As the case unfolds, the nation awaits further developments while grappling with the implications of political violence in public discourse.
