Colleagues of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump, described him as a "quiet and often isolated student who was frequently bullied." According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, several individuals expressed shock upon hearing about Crooks' involvement in the incident on Saturday, noting that he was not very talkative and kept his political opinions to himself. They remarked on his odd behavior in school and his tendency to wear camouflage or hunting clothing, with few friends.
Julianna Grooms, who graduated a year after Crooks, remarked, "If someone said something to his face, he would kind of stare at them." She suggested that some might have thought he was the type of student who would potentially commit a school shooting, referencing the peculiar behavior often associated with such individuals in the U.S.
In an interview with NBC, Michael Dodjak, 20, who attended school with Crooks for most of his life, stated he never witnessed Crooks being bullied. Dodjak characterized him as a "very self-reliant" student and noted he did not recall Crooks openly discussing politics or being very active on social media. On the night of the incident, Dodjak was with some high school friends when he learned that Crooks was the shooter, saying they were all "in shock" and "couldn't understand" the news. He added, "It is definitely frightening for someone you went to school with to commit such a heinous act. The craziest thing is I was in the same class with this person two years ago."
Others in his neighborhood stated they did not remember him at all. Furthermore, NBC News reported that he was a member of the Clairton Sports Club in Pittsburgh. Crooks never attended any military school, and the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed he has no affiliation with the U.S. military. The facility features various shooting ranges, including those for pistols and both indoor and outdoor shooting areas. Club president Bill Selito commented on the targeting of Trump, saying, "We are fed up with this. It’s a terrible thing." The club released a statement condemning the "foolish act of violence" and extended "heartfelt condolences" to the family of the deceased Comberatori, offering prayers for all those injured, including the former president.
Regarding his workplace, the Bethel Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where he worked as an aide, stated that "Crooks' background check was clean, and he performed his job without any issues." Center director Marcy Grim expressed the shock and sadness felt upon learning of his involvement. She revealed that the center is cooperating with law enforcement and cannot comment further.
On Saturday, law enforcement officials were unable to quickly identify Crooks after the shooting, as they did not find an ID on him when he was subdued. They noted that the AR-15 rifle used belonged to his father and were investigating whether he took the weapon without the older man’s knowledge. People familiar with the investigation indicated the father thought his son went to a shooting range on Saturday but became concerned when he could not reach him and contacted the police following reports of the shooting.
