The father of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks reportedly said he is trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” as his son was identified as former President Trump’s attempted assassin.
Matthew Crooks wouldn’t provide details about his son and wanted to “wait until I talk to law enforcement,” before speaking out on the horrific shooting, the elder Crooks told CNN on Saturday night.
Thomas Crooks was shot and killed after he opened fire at former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Crooks’ bullet grazed the 45th president’s right ear as he killed a male spectator and critically injured two others.
Crooks had set himself up on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage.
The counter-sniper team, which sources told The Post killed the shooter, returned fire from the roof of another building close to where Trump was located — behind the audience stands.
Follow The Post’s latest stories on the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump:
- Trump says he ‘felt the bullet ripping through my skin’ in first statement since assassination attempt
- Former President Trump ‘inches away from having his face shot open’ by assassin’s bullet during Pa. rally; sniper killed: sources
- Gunman behind attempted assassination on Trump had head blown off by Secret Service, sources say; rally-goer killed
- Witnesses frantically tried to warn police of rifle-carrying sniper on roof before Trump assassination attempt
- Trump sees outpouring of support after assassination attempt at rally stop
Keep up to date on updates with the Post’s live blog on the assassination attempt on Trump
The would-be assassin was a registered Republican but donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project in 2021, a Democratic-aligned political action committee.
Everything we know about apparent Trump assassination attempt
- Former President Donald Trump was targeted by a shooter during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania
- Trump’s face was grazed by a bullet during the shooting
- The gunman and one bystander have been killed
- President Biden addressed the nation and referred to the shooting as sick, saying he “tried to get ahold of Donald”
Keep up to date on updates with the Post’s live blog on the assassination attempt on Trump
Records indicate Crooks lived in the town of Bethel Park, Pa. approximately 45 miles south of Butler Farm Show grounds where the shooting took place.