THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS' PARENTS TOLD 'DON'T BLAME YOURSELF' BY NEIGHBOR
The parents of Donald Trump's would-be assassin have been consoled by a neighbor, who sent a message to them through the media, saying: "It was not your fault."
Thomas Matthew Crooks killed one audience member and injured two more after he opened fire at Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The 20-year-old was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper shortly after firing at the former president.
Trump was left bloodied after his ear was grazed by a bullet but later stood defiantly to raise his fist and shout "fight!" repeatedly, before being whisked away by Secret Service agents. Striking photographs of the scene went viral, with some Trump fans being tattooed with the image, while political analysts believe the near-miss and Trump's reaction may have helped the Republican's chances ahead of November's presidential elections.
Both sides of the political spectrum have called for calm and unity in the wake of the attempted assassination, but attention is increasingly turning toward the shooter as the FBI investigates his background and motives.
The 20-year-old, who lived with his parents in the small Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, belonged to a shooting club and worked in the kitchen of a local nursing home. He was a registered Republican, according to reports, which said records showed he had also once donated $15 to the Democratic candidates' fundraising group ActBlue in 2021.
Two law enforcement officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, bought a weapon at least six months ago. The dad told CNN he was trying to work out "what the hell is going on." He added that he would "wait until I talk to law enforcement" before speaking publicly about his son.
The family is said to be cooperating fully with investigators.
Neighbors have spoken of their shock that the incident was perpetrated by someone so close to home. But one also had public words of comfort for Crooks' parents.
Cindy Angelo told Channel 11 News that she had returned home at the weekend to find the road cordoned off with police tape.
"This is very shocking to me," she said. "I really thought there was an accident [and] that's why the road was blocked off. When he [a police officer] told me that [about the shooting] I was like, 'What?!' I couldn't even imagine that. I couldn't imagine that someone living on my street would do that."
She can't understand the shooter's motivations.
"Twenty years old," she said. "What a wasted life. For who? For what? I honestly feel if you feel that strongly about politics, get into politics and make a change. That's the way I feel."
The neighbor added that her heart went out to the victims and Trump, but also to Crooks' parents.
"Please don't blame yourself," she said. "It was not your fault."
The shooter's employer, Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, released a statement saying they were "shocked and saddened" to learn of Crooks' attempt to kill Trump. His background check "was clean," the statement added, suggesting he did not have previous criminal convictions.
The FBI is continuing its investigation and has asked members of the public who saw anything concerning at the rally, or who have relevant footage, to contact the agency at 1-800-CALL-FBI or leave a tip online at FBI.gov/butler.
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2024-07-15T15:07:37Z
