A former classmate of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin who targeted former President Donald Trump, has provided chilling details about the gunman's behavior and past threats, raising questions about his motives and potential accomplices.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, displayed a troubling obsession with politicians and expressed a "smug" attitude towards those who supported the former president, according to a former classmate.
Vincent Taormina, 20, revealed that he had an uncomfortable encounter with Crooks years ago during which the future gunman grilled him about his support for Trump. Taormina said that Crooks called him "stupid" and expressed a deep disdain for politicians in general, including Trump, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Fallout from the Trump Shooter: Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Mysterious Motives
Taormina also shared his concerns about a school shooting threat that originated from Crooks' group of close friends. Although there was no concrete evidence linking Crooks directly to the threat, Taormina said he had suspicions due to Crooks' sudden disappearance from school for several days after the threat was made.
However, another former classmate, Sarah D'Angelo, stated that she did not believe Crooks was involved in the school shooting threat based on their interactions in middle school. She said that Crooks did not express any outward political views at the time.
Fallout from the Trump Shooter: Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Mysterious Motives
In the wake of Crooks' deadly attack, Taormina expressed his belief that someone in Crooks' friend group must have known something about his plans. He questions why no one noticed any warning signs before the tragedy occurred.
A federal investigation is currently underway to determine Crooks' motives and uncover any potential accomplices who may have assisted him. The FBI is analyzing his laptop, cellphone, and rifle and interviewing numerous witnesses.
Fallout from the Trump Shooter: Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Mysterious Motives
On the day of the attack, Secret Service counter-snipers "neutralized" Crooks at the scene. Images show him lying dead on a rooftop less than 150 yards from where Trump had been speaking.
Former Secret Service agent Jason Kohler has raised concerns about the agency being "stretched thin" with new responsibilities and a lack of manpower. He believes that this may have contributed to the vulnerability of the Trump rally.
Fallout from the Trump Shooter: Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Mysterious Motives
Anyone with information about the case is urged to submit tips to http://tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the motives behind Crooks' actions and identify any potential accomplices or triggers that may have led to this horrific crime.
