Trump Attacker Rejected from School Shooting Club Due to Poor Marksmanship

Photo : AP

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot by law enforcement after allegedly attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Crooks had positioned himself on a rooftop approximately 140 meters from the stage where Trump was speaking and opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, which he had acquired from his father. The gunfire grazed Trump's right ear, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries, while tragically killing a 50-year-old attendee and critically injuring two others.

Crooks had previously been a member of the local Clairton Sportsmen's Club and had attempted to join his high school's rifle team, although he was rejected due to his poor marksmanship. Former classmates described him as a "terrible shot," with reports indicating he missed his target by a significant margin during tryouts.

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Described as a quiet and respectful individual by his high school counselor and peers, Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. He was employed as a dietary aide at a nursing home near his hometown at the time of the shooting. Reports indicate he was not known to be politically active.

The incident has prompted a reassessment of security measures at political rallies, with President Joe Biden and his team adjusting their plans in response to the shocking event.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about security and the impact of political tensions on public safety in the United States.