Since Thomas Matthew Crookes attempted to assassinate the former president, President Donald Trump On July 13, his social behavior and possible mental state were revealed.
Some residents of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, the small town outside Pittsburgh where Crooks lived with his parents, described the 20-year-old shooter to local media as a “loner.”
A check of Crooks’ cell phone revealed that he had previously depressionAccording to reports.
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In a conference call with reporters on Monday, Kevin Rojack, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, described Crooks as “a loner in terms of his relationships and other activities that are relevant to his mental health.”
“His social circle appears to have been limited primarily to close family members. He appears to have had few friends or acquaintances throughout his life,” Rojak said.
Thomas Matthew Crooks is photographed in front of the Butler Fairgrounds in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 14, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Bethel Park School District, Getty Images)
Jason Kohler, who attended the same high school as Crooks, told Fox News that he was a “loner” who was “alone and always alone and was bullied every day.”
Kohler told reporters that Crooks would sit alone at lunch and would often be mocked for wearing “hunting clothes.”
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In retrospect, several of his classmates said there were warning signs that Crooks was capable of planning a violent attack that left one man dead, two seriously injured and a former U.S. president wounded.
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump was quickly escorted off the stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“The signs were there and someone definitely knew,” Vincent Taormina, a former classmate of Crooks’, told Fox News Digital in a previous interview.
When are lonely people dangerous?
Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist and author, said many lonely people are “totally harmless.”
“Loneliness, in and of itself, is not a dangerous trait at all,” he told Fox News Digital in an email on Monday. “Social withdrawal and extreme isolation can be a sign of depression, and that’s it.”
But Alpert noted that people who are known to be loners can also be “quite disturbed.”
“Loneliness in itself is not a dangerous trait at all,” the psychologist says, “but social withdrawal and extreme isolation can be signs of depression.” (iStock)
“Extreme behaviour and mood swings suggest emotional instability and should not be taken lightly, especially if there is a history of hostility towards others and society,” the experts said.
“Add to that an obsession with violence, weapons and death, and you have someone who is capable of harming others.”
“Extreme behavior and mood swings indicate emotional instability and should not be taken lightly.”
Alpert warned that paranoia and delusional thinking by such individuals can increase their risk, “particularly if they believe they have a special mission to accomplish or if they believe others are out to attack them.”
“Everyone needs to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, and that there are people who care about them,” the mental health expert said. (iStock)
Judy Ho, PhD, an associate professor at Pepperdine University in California and IRB chair, agreed that preferring solitude is often just a personality trait and not necessarily a sign of potential danger.
“Being around people all the time can be exhausting, and some people prefer to have some time alone to recharge their batteries,” she said.
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“This is a classic ‘introvert’ style; they tend to prefer small groups of people and feel more relaxed when they have plenty of time alone.”
Some people tend to isolate themselves because of depression, she noted, noting that depression is often accompanied by symptoms such as low mood, loss of interest in activities normally enjoyed, irritability, low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness, and changes in sleep and appetite. Complaints of fatigueand may even lead to suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the attempted assassin of former President Donald J. Trump, is a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School. (Source: Fox News Digital)
“The more dangerous ‘loner’ mentality contains certain elements such as acting as if they are harboring big secrets, expressing feelings of disenfranchisement or loss, having strong feelings that people are ‘wrongful’ them, and hoping that people should pay a price for these misdeeds,” Ho said.
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Other signs, according to Ho, include a lack of concrete purpose or drive, a desire for power but a feeling that one lacks it, spending hours studying conspiracy theories, or becoming obsessed with hobbies that involve danger or risk.
Judy Gaman, CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas and healthy living expert, emphasized this distinction.
“Anyone can feel depressed from time to time. And depression can be linked to a lot of things, including trauma and hormonal fluctuations,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Lonely types tend to have antisocial personalities, are often angry towards the world or particular groups, and may have a history of being bullied or abused as children,” the experts said. (iStock)
“Temporary mood changes are quite different from the personality disorders we often see in people we call ‘loners,'” she continued.
“Lonely personalities are often antisocial and angry towards the world or particular groups, and may have a history of being bullied or abused as children.”
5 tips for dealing with other people’s “lonely” behavior
If you suspect that someone you know is lonely and exhibiting the warning signs listed above, there are steps you can take to avoid making things worse.
1. Carefully assess the situation
“Make note of any specific behaviors or patterns that might make you believe they are a threat,” Alpert suggested.
As part of this assessment, it’s important to avoid acting on speculation, he added.
“The stigma surrounding mental illness remains strong, so sometimes it’s more important than anything for them to know that they won’t be criticized if they disclose their weaknesses,” the expert said. (Bethel Park School District, iStock)
“Too often, people mistakenly conclude that a person is predisposed to certain behaviors based on appearance alone. For example, not everyone who wears black clothing is a likely school shooter,” Alpert said.
2. Discuss without criticizing
The best way to get started, according to Ho, is to share your observations of some concerning behaviors without interpreting what those behaviors mean.
“Tell them you’re worried about them, ask them what’s going on, and allow some silence for them to fill the space and share their thoughts,” she advised.
3. Offer to help
“When the other person talks to you, ask what you can do instead of guessing what you should do or what they want, because it may not be what they really want,” Ho recommended.
Consider volunteering to go and talk with the person. Mental Health Professionals Or, the doctor suggested, do so if another trusted person agreed to it.
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“The stigma surrounding mental illness is still very strong, so it’s paramount for them to know they won’t be judged if they share their vulnerabilities,” Ho added.
4. Know when to contact the authorities
If you truly suspect someone is a danger to others, Alpert says it’s best to avoid confronting them directly.
If you suspect someone you know may be a loner and is exhibiting the warning signs listed above, experts say there are steps you can take to prevent things from getting worse. (iStock)
“Don’t make them angry,” the expert warned. “Instead, Contact the authorities In response to your concerns.”
Teachers, parents and health care workers should all pay special attention to mental health warning signs, Gaman added.
5. If you see something, say something
“We often don’t want to invade or invade someone’s privacy, but if you have something that concerns you, speaking up to them directly or to the police could potentially save not only your life but the lives of others,” Ho said.
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“Never underestimate what you can do to help someone who is suffering. A simple listening ear is often enough to allow the other person to take a step back, see the bigger picture, find reason for hope and move forward.”
“Speaking up if something concerns you could potentially save their life, and someone else’s, too.”
If Crooks’ isolation was a factor in his decision to attempt the assassination on July 13, it highlights the importance of social support for mental health, experts agree.
“Community is important to everyone,” Ho told Fox News Digital.
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“Everyone needs to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, and that there are people who care about them,” she continued.
“It’s important for all humans to have a few people they can trust and feel they can depend on, even if it’s just a small group of friends.”
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin and Christina Coulter contributed reporting.
