A bullet was fired at an election rally, grazing the ear of former United States President Donald Trump. The loud and cheering voices fell silent for a moment. The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Crooks was known to be a poor marksman during his school years. According to his school friend, Jameson Myers, Crooks had tried to join the high school rifle team. However, he was not only rejected but also asked not to return after a pre-season session. Myers mentioned that Crooks’ shooting skills were considered so bad that they were deemed dangerous.
An anonymous member of the rifle team confirmed to ABC News that there was a general opinion that Crooks was not suitable for the team. However, the school district stated that there was no official record of Crooks being part of the rifle team. The district reported that Crooks “never appeared on a roster.”
Despite his poor marksmanship, Crooks was a member of a local shooting club called Clairton Sportsmen’s Club. A team member from the club noted that Crooks performed poorly there as well, describing his shooting as terrible.
Described as “quiet” and “very smart,” Crooks was considered a loner by those who knew him. Myers noted that Crooks was more socially reserved and did not have many friends. Although estranged from politics, Crooks was a fan of “Star Wars.” Myers remembered Crooks as a nice and sweet guy.
During the rally, Crooks was armed with an AR-style rifle and fired from the rooftop of a building, approximately 140 meters from the stage where Donald Trump was speaking. The bullet grazed the 79-year-old former president. Crooks was subsequently shot dead by Secret Service agents.
This incident has brought attention to Crooks’ background and his involvement with firearms, raising questions about how someone with a known history of poor marksmanship and social isolation managed to attempt such an act.
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