20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot at Donald Trump at Pennsylvania rally Saturday had an account on social media platform Discord, details have now emerged. Fox News quotes a Discord spokesperson who confirmed that an account appeared to be linked to Crooks was identified and then removed following the company’s ‘off-platform behavior policy’.
The account was rarely used and there was no post indicative of the attack. “It was rarely utilized, has not been used in months, and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views,” the spokesperson said. “Discord strongly condemns violence of any kind, including political violence, and we will continue to coordinate closely with law enforcement.”
Crooks was shot dead after he fired at Trump with the bullet grazing the upper right part of his ear. One attendee was killed and two others were injured.
Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition just hours before the assassination attempt, CNN reported. The gun shop owner reported the purchase to the investigators.
The horrific attack unfolded as Crooks was on the roof of a manufacturing plant about 130 yards away from Trump’s rally when he squeezed out eight rounds. Secret Service snipers responded quickly, returning fire and killing the 20-year-old instantly. He was found with an AR-style semi-automatic assault rifle that his father had bought and was wearing a shirt for a popular gun YouTube channel, Demolition Ranch.
Crooks has been described as a loner who was bullied in high school, according to former classmates, was a registered Republican, though he made a single donation to the liberal ActBlue political action committee when he was just 17.
Among the gunman’s possessions, authorities also discovered a “rudimentary” explosive device, which was sent to the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Virginia, along with his phone and gun.
Law enforcement officials are investigating a motive in the attack and said that as of Sunday, there was nothing to indicate the shooter had mental health issues, and he so far has not been tied to any specific ideology. He’s believed to have acted alone, officials said.
The account was rarely used and there was no post indicative of the attack. “It was rarely utilized, has not been used in months, and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views,” the spokesperson said. “Discord strongly condemns violence of any kind, including political violence, and we will continue to coordinate closely with law enforcement.”
Crooks was shot dead after he fired at Trump with the bullet grazing the upper right part of his ear. One attendee was killed and two others were injured.
Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition just hours before the assassination attempt, CNN reported. The gun shop owner reported the purchase to the investigators.
The horrific attack unfolded as Crooks was on the roof of a manufacturing plant about 130 yards away from Trump’s rally when he squeezed out eight rounds. Secret Service snipers responded quickly, returning fire and killing the 20-year-old instantly. He was found with an AR-style semi-automatic assault rifle that his father had bought and was wearing a shirt for a popular gun YouTube channel, Demolition Ranch.
Crooks has been described as a loner who was bullied in high school, according to former classmates, was a registered Republican, though he made a single donation to the liberal ActBlue political action committee when he was just 17.
Among the gunman’s possessions, authorities also discovered a “rudimentary” explosive device, which was sent to the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Virginia, along with his phone and gun.
Law enforcement officials are investigating a motive in the attack and said that as of Sunday, there was nothing to indicate the shooter had mental health issues, and he so far has not been tied to any specific ideology. He’s believed to have acted alone, officials said.
