The 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump over the weekend has been described as a social outcast and isolated person who faced bullying in school. According to new footage released by TMZ shows some of the things Thomas Matthew Crooks encountered while he was in school.
In the footage, you can see someone pulling on Crooks’ pants. Although the footage seems to look playful you can hear someone in the background saying “stop” multiple times. As we previously reported, Crooks’ former classmate Jason Kohler told news outlets that Crooks was a loner in high school.
Kohler stated that Crooks would often wear hunting attire and was ridiculed for his uncommon clothing choices. “He would sit alone at lunch. He was just the outcast,” Mr Kohler said. “It’s honestly kind of sad.”
Frederick Mach, a current captain of the school’s rifle team, mentioned that Crooks attempted to join the team but was rejected due to his poor shooting skills. Michael Dudjak, who attended school with Crooks for most of his life, described him as a quiet and reserved classmate who kept to himself. Dudjak noted that he did not witness Crooks being bullied by his peers, but he often appeared isolated.
Dudjak also mentioned that Crooks did not express strong political views or have a significant presence on social media. When Dudjak and his friends learned that Crooks was the gunman, they were all shocked and found it difficult to believe the news.
Crooks utilized an AR-style rifle in the incident, with authorities suspecting that it was purchased by his father. Kevin Rojek, an FBI special agent in Pittsburgh, stated that investigators are unsure if Crooks took the gun without his father’s consent. Crooks was employed as a dietary aide at a nursing home, a role typically involving food preparation. The administrator of Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, Marcie Grimm, expressed shock and sadness upon learning about Crooks’ involvement in the incident.