In the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, the father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspect who was fatally shot by Secret Service snipers, has finally spoken out. Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, broke his silence just days after the incident, expressing the family's need for privacy.
"We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space," Matthew Crooks told Fox News while leaving a grocery store on Monday, July 22. He further added, "We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so – until then, we have no comment."
Earlier, Matthew had briefly mentioned his confusion and distress over the situation, stating he wanted to understand "what the hell is going on” and would refrain from further comments until he had spoken with law enforcement.
The rifle used in the shooting was purchased by Matthew, who is registered as a Libertarian. The Crooks family has been actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation, though the motive behind Thomas’s actions remains unclear. Authorities discovered photos of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and other senior government officials on Thomas's phone, along with searches related to the Democratic National Convention and Trump's public appearances.
In related news, Bethel Park High School, where Thomas Crooks was a student, has denied allegations that he was bullied. Despite claims from his classmates that he was “relentlessly” bullied and had made threats to shoot up the school after trying out for the rifle team, the school dismissed these as “painful misconceptions.”
During the rally, Thomas Crooks opened fire, wounding former President Trump and two others. Tragically, he also killed firefighter Corey Comperatore before being shot by Secret Service snipers.
