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Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was rejected from his high school rifle team for being a 'terrible shot': Would-be assassin was considered 'dangerous' and made 'concerning' jokes about guns
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, was once rejected from his high school rifle club and considered a danger.
The registered Republican and 2022 high school graduate opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6.15pm.
Now, disturbing anecdotes have emerged from those who knew Crooks dating back to his days at Bethel Park High School.
Crooks tried out for the school's rifle team but was turned away because he was a bad shooter, said Frederick Mach, a current captain of the team who was a few years behind Crooks at the school.
Jonathan Myers, a member of the team around the time Crooks auditioned, said there was something ominous about him back then.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, was once rejected from his high school rifle club and considered a danger
'He didn't just not make the team, he was asked not to come back because how bad of a shot he was, it was considered like, dangerous,' Myers told ABC News.
Fellow classmate Jameson Murphy added: 'He tried out…and was such a comically bad shot he was unable to make the team and left after the first day.'
Murphy told the New York Post that Crooks once fired a shot that missed his target by almost 20 feet.
Crooks once fired from the seventh lane — the closest lane to the right wall — and hit the left wall, completely missing every target on the back wall. He missed his target by close to 20 feet, Murphy recalled.
Others who were on the team said Crooks would make inappropriate jokes and overall, didn't seem right.
'We noticed a few things Thomas said and how he interacted with other people… He said some things that were kind of concerning,' a classmate said.
'He made some crass jokes that weren't appropriate when there are firearms in the school setting,' they added.
Images of Crooks wearing glasses, braces, and an American flag t-shirt in a yearbook headshots emerged on Sunday morning, hours after he tried to take out the presumptive Republican nominee and killed a member of the rally crowd.
Crooks was a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - where he provided food and care for post-hospital elderly and sick people.
His employer confirmed on Sunday that he had a clean background check and 'performed his job without concern' before he attempted to kill Trump.
Crooks tried out for the school's rifle team but was turned away because he was a bad shooter, said Frederick Mach, a current captain of the team who was a few years behind Crooks at the school
In unprecedented scenes of terror, Trump was seen grabbing his ear and dropping to the ground as Crooks' gunshots rang out and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Moments later, he got up and raised his fist and shouted 'fight, fight, fight' as the Secret Service escorted him to a motorcade and then to hospital.
Crooks' uncle Mark Crooks told DailyMail.com he hadn't seen the gunman or his parents in years, and described them as 'very private'.
'I haven't seen that part of my family in years,' he said. 'Honestly it's been so long I don't think much about them
'It's a shame. The kid is like a stranger to me. They're private and they don't reach out to anybody any time.'
Bethel Park School District - where Crooks was a student until two years ago - verified his graduation and vowed full cooperation with investigators.
Records show he donated to a group who backed President Joe Biden on the day of the inauguration in 2020.
A resident near to where Crooks lived, who wanted to remain anonymous, confirmed the identity of the gunman to DailyMail.com.
Members of the community where Crooks is believed to have lived with his parents were swarmed by police and Secret Service on Sunday morning.
Those who spoke to DailyMail.com said the family were quiet and kept to themselves.
Bethel Park School District verified his 2022 graduation and vowed full cooperation with investigators
As Trump pumped his fist to the crowd, some were heard cheering his name and chanting 'USA' and 'Make America Great Again'
His father, Matthew Crooks, 53, told CNN he was trying to figure out 'what the hell is going on' but would 'wait until I talk to law enforcement' before speaking.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, had been armed with 'an AR-style rifle'.
During the attack, he appeared to be wearing merchandise promoting one of YouTube's most popular channels devoted to firearms - Demolition Ranch - NBC News reported.
Special Agent Kevin Rojek, the FBI officer in charge, said Crooks had been identified using DNA as he was not carrying any ID on him.
A resident who wanted to remain anonymous confirmed the identity of the gunman to DailyMail.com
Members of the community where Crooks is believed to have lived with his parents were swarmed by police and Secret Service on Sunday morning
Law enforcement locked down the streets where Crooks lived on Sunday morning during the investigation into why he wanted to shoot the former president, and how he managed to do it
Officers stand guard outside a cordon in Bethel Park as cops search an address registered to Crooks
Blood can be seen pouring from the side of the former president's head
Trump had blood streaming down his cheeks as Secret Service agents put him to the floor
Last night a bomb squad and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at an address registered to Crooks as cops stood guard in front of yellow police caution tape.
A member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are males, according to law enforcement officials.
Trump was left bloodied and hurt during the assassination attempt as he was seen to suddenly grab hold of his ear as loud bangs rang out and whizzed by before he ducked to the floor.
The Secret Service swarmed around the 45th US President as piercing screams were heard from the MAGA crowd.
He then got to his feet with blood pouring down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted 'fight' while the audience shouted 'USA' as he was dragged off stage and bundled into a vehicle.
Mr Rojek said they had not identified a motive for what he called 'an assassination attempt on our former president'.
According to Pennsylvania's public court records, Crooks had no criminal history and officials claimed they are still working towards identifying a motive behind the shooting.
This is the moment the president was injured as at least one stunned onlooker realized something had gone very wrong
Crooks graduated in 2022 from Bethel Park High School, and received a $500 'star award' that year from the National Math and Science Initiative, a report from The Tribune-Review in western Pennsylvania.
In an online recording of the 2022 graduation ceremony, he can be seen crossing the stage as the crowd applauds him, before briefly posing with a school official and accepting his diploma.
Secret Service agents could be heard shouting 'the shooter is down' in the ensuing chaos and the gunman was later confirmed dead.
Trump was taken to hospital for treatment before being later released.
Spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump is 'fine' and being checked out at a local medical facility while the former president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr said his father 'is in great spirits'.
Police personnel stand over the body of Thomas Matthews Crooks on a rooftop
Trump flew back to New Jersey ahead of his spending the night at his golf resort in Bedminster.
In a post to his Truth Social network, Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement 'for their rapid response'.
'I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,' he said on social media.
'Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.
'I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of law enforcement, for their rapid response,' Trump added.
'Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
'It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.
Donald Trump appeared to be shot in the ear as shots were fired at the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania
Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate that he was okay in an image that has since swept the globe
'GOD BLESS AMERICA!'
Rep. Ronny Jackson revealed his nephew was shot during the assassination attempt on Trump.
Jackson, who was Trump and President Barack Obama's White House physician, said he helped his nephew and a friend get a spot in the friends and family section close to the stage at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
He told Fox News on Saturday night that his relative was grazed in the neck and bleeding.
'They heard the shots and everybody dropped to the ground and … he was grazed in the neck, a bullet crossed his neck and he was bleeding,' Jackson said on Fox News. 'This is my nephew. They were there. I set them up. They went to the rally.'
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said he was told by detectives that the gunman was on the roof of a building adjacent to the event, and the shooting 'would have required a rifle' as it 'was several hundred yards' away.
The identity of the dead bystander have not yet been confirmed. An AR-style rifle was recovered at the scene.
In an image that has already gone around the world, Trump was pictured repeatedly pumping his fist with blood dripping from his face while being swarmed by Secret Service agents.
Moments later, he was rushed away to safety.
Trump mouthed the word 'fight' at supporters as blood spattered across his face
Trump is rushed and helped off stage by the Secret Service after a failed assassination attempt
A stunned witness, named only as Greg, told the BBC he saw the would-be assassin climb onto the top of a building outside the event, and that he was bewildered by the lack of action from agents.
He said: 'I'm thinking to myself, why is Trump still speaking, why have they not pulled him off the stage? The next thing you know, five shots ring out.'
After the gunman opened fire he saw the Secret Service 'blow his head off,' the man said.
President Biden said in a statement that Americans 'must unite as one nation' in response to the horrific scenes.
'I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. I'm grateful to hear that he's safe and doing well,' the White House said in a statement.
'I'm praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.'
In a press conference later in the evening, Biden described the incident as 'sick', and said there is 'no place in America for this kind of violence.'
'I hope I get to speak to him tonight,' Biden said of his 2024 opponent.
The president delivered his comments from the White House's emergency briefing room in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is set up whenever the president travels. He was spending the weekend at his beach home and was at a nearby church when the shooting occurred.
President Biden received an 'initial briefing' from aides after he left church minutes after the shooting and then convened security officials for a more in-depth update.
The Biden campaign said it was pausing all messaging to supporters and working to pull down all of its television ads as quickly as possible, the campaign said.
Mr Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee said the party's convention in Milwaukee, which is due to start on Monday, will 'proceed' after the shooting.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that she was also briefed, adding that she and her husband 'are relieved' that Mr Trump was not seriously injured.
Trump's campaign said he was raced to hospital after the shooting, but is 'fine'
Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Trump was speaking at a campaign rally
Trump supporters cowered for safety in the stands as chaos took hold
'Violence such as this has no place in our nation,' she said. 'We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.'
Donald Trump Jr shared a post of his bloodied father with his fist clenched on X, captioned: 'He'll never stop fighting to save America.'
Other well-wishers have already rushed to support Trump with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former PMs Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage among those reacting to the assassination attempt.
The Prime Minister posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally and we send him and his family our best wishes.
'Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.'
Mr Johnson said it was 'a miracle that Donald Trump escaped an attempted assassination'.
Writing on X, the former Conservative prime minister added: 'As we give thanks for his safety we are reminded once again of the tragic fragility of democracy in the face of violence and unreason.
'Our thoughts are with the president and the Trump family.'
Mr Farage said: 'Mainstream media have spread a narrative of hatred against my friend Donald Trump.
'I hope they are proud of themselves. Disgusting people.'
Elon Musk, who is the chairman of X, said: 'I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.'
He then added: 'Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.'
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss struck a similar tone, saying: 'Pray for President Trump. Pray for America.'
In a post to Truth Social, Trump said his thoughts are with the family of the rally attendee who was killed as he offered details of the shooting
The president's predecessor Barack Obama posted: 'There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.
'Although we don't yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn't seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.
'Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.'
A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'We are shocked by the scenes at President Trump's rally in Pennsylvania.
'We condemn all forms of political violence in the strongest terms and we send our best wishes to President Trump and his family at this time.'
A spokesperson for the ATF said agents from the bureau have been deployed to assist with the aftermath of the chaos.
Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., was standing front row at the rally along with Reps. Mike Kelly and GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick.
Meuser said he heard between eight to 10 shots ring out as screams rippled through the crowd, according to Fox News.
He added that it appeared there were multiple people in the crowd may have been impacted by the bullets and the local district attorney confirmed that at least one person is 'believed to be dead.'
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the shocking scenes in his state.
President Biden said at a press conference that there is 'no place in America for this kind of violence'
'Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,' Shapiro said on X.
'It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States. I have been briefed on the situation. @PAStatePolice are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local partners.'
An emergency room doctor at the Trump rally revealed how he performed CPR on a member of the crowd after the attempted assassination.
'I heard the shots. I thought it was firecrackers begin with. Somebody over there was screaming 'he's been shot he's been shot,'' said the man who had blood splattered all over his white USA shirt. 'So I made my way over. I said I'm an emergency department physician. Let me help you.'
'The guy had spun around was jammed between the benches and a head shot here. There's lots of blood and he had brain matter,' he told CBS News.