Trump attacker Thomas Crooks was rejected by school shooting club

The 20-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump had previously tried to join his high school’s rifle team but was rejected for being a “terrible” shot.

Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by law enforcement after allegedly attacking the 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, about an hour from the rally, was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club. He had attempted to join the rifle team at Bethel Park High School but was turned away due to his poor shooting skills.

Former classmates mentioned that Crooks was not only a poor shot but also made inappropriate jokes in the context of firearms in a school setting. Former student Jameson Murphy recalled that Crooks once missed his target by nearly 20 feet.

Murphy recounted, “He tried out…and was such a comically bad shot he was unable to make the team and left after the first day.” Another classmate echoed this sentiment, stating, “Crooks couldn’t shoot at all. He was a terrible shot.”

Jason Kohler, who attended the same high school as Crooks, said the alleged shooter had been frequently bullied. “He was quiet but was just bullied. He was bullied so much,” Kohler told reporters, noting that Crooks was often mocked for his attire, which sometimes included hunting outfits.

An undated image shows a driver’s license photograph of Thomas Matthew Crooks. (Image: AFP)

Following the shooting, investigators found a “suspicious device” in Crooks’ car, which was inspected by bomb technicians and is currently being analysed as evidence. There were no military ties reported for Crooks.

Secret Service snipers killed Crooks after he fired multiple shots from a nearby rooftop. Officials reported that Crooks had positioned himself on a rooftop 140 meters from the stage where Trump was speaking and began firing an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, which had been purchased by his father. The gunfire struck Trump’s right ear, killed a 50-year-old man, and critically injured two other spectators.