The father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, has recently emerged publicly for the first time since the incident. Matthew Brian Crooks, aged 53, spoke briefly as he was seen leaving a grocery store. He mentioned that the family is focused on taking care of themselves and requested privacy during this time. He indicated that they will release a statement once they receive advice from their legal counsel, but until then, they have no further comments.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old involved in the shooting, had fired an AR-15 rifle at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The attack resulted in Crooks being shot and killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper after he managed to injure Trump with a bullet that grazed his ear. Crooks’ father, a registered Libertarian, had legally purchased the rifle used in the attack.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the assassination attempt, but no clear reason has been disclosed yet. The family is cooperating with the investigation as officials examine Crooks’ phone, which contained photos of Trump, President Biden, and other high-profile figures, as well as searches related to political events.
The timeline of Crooks’ actions leading up to the attack includes visits to a shooting range and a gun store, purchases of ammunition and a ladder, and entry into the rally venue where he was closely monitored before eventually climbing onto a building’s roof and opening fire.
