Background of Thomas Matthew Crooks

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump a year ago, grew up in a household described by relatives as emotionless. His father, who was very strict, significantly shaped the environment he grew up in.

On July 13, 2024, Crooks fired shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, before being killed by a Secret Service sniper. While many details about his motivations remain unclear, his first cousin, Mark Crooks, 44, recently shared insights into the peculiar and anti-social dynamics of their family.

Mark last saw Thomas during a family gathering at their grandfather’s funeral in March 2019, where the atmosphere was notably odd. “They were almost like statues. It felt like they were under some sort of orders, and no one seemed upset,” Mark recalled. He added, “It was really strange, and we all felt that way.”

In a somewhat haunting moment, their father, Matthew, mentioned, “I’ll never see us again,” leaving Mark feeling unsettled.

Mark expressed that there were no signs that Thomas, a university student studying science and engineering, was struggling with mental health or constructing homemade explosives leading up to the shooting.

Matthew Crooks, 54, is said to have gone to great lengths to keep his family away from Mark Sr.’s family, despite their proximity in Pennsylvania. “My uncle was quite reclusive. He wanted nothing to do with anyone else,” Mark explained.

During rare family gatherings at their grandfather’s house, Matthew would often tell his children to “lock the door and hide” whenever relatives came around.

Thomas lived with his parents and sister in a modest three-bedroom house in Bethel Park. On the day of the rally, he traveled 260 miles and climbed to a 130-yard rooftop, opening fire with an AR-15 rifle as Trump spoke. He shot eight times, grazing Trump, and tragically killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore, 50, while injuring others.

Mark reflected on his mixed feelings regarding Thomas’s violent actions, saying, “I was sad, but not in the way you would expect if you knew him well and spent time together.” He noted that Matthew and Mary Crooks did not respond to any comments from the media.

Since the shooting, Thomas’s family has become more reclusive, turning down media requests and distancing themselves further from relatives. “My dad has tried reaching out to my uncle multiple times, leaving messages,” Mark shared.