Thomas Matthew Crooks, who recently attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump, had a disturbing history of threats, including a significant one during his high school years. Crooks reportedly threatened to “shoot up” Bethel Park High School five years prior, which led to many students staying home out of fear.
In 2019, Crooks posted an ominous message on an anonymous school platform, warning classmates to avoid school. He hinted at bombs being placed in the cafeteria bathrooms. Vincent Taormina, a former classmate, recalled the incident, stating, “Half of us just didn’t come to school the next day — I didn’t. But it wasn’t taken seriously.” This message, now a focal point for the FBI, is eerily similar to the recent attack at a Trump rally.
The high school incident was quickly linked to Crooks and his friends, but school officials at the time dismissed the threats. “We all texted one another and it came out pretty quickly that it was Thomas and his friend group who’d made the threats,” Taormina added.
Crooks’ recent actions, however, were far from dismissed. At a Trump campaign rally, Crooks fired seven shots from a rooftop, aiming for the former president. Although Trump only sustained a minor injury, the attack resulted in the death of a father of two and left two others seriously injured. Explosives were later discovered in Crooks’ vehicle, which was parked near the rally site.
The 2019 threat from Crooks came during a time when he was frequently bullied and was even given the cruel nickname “the school shooter.” His absence from the yearbook that year was another indication of his troubled school life.
This background is now being examined by criminologists to understand the motive behind the assassination attempt on Trump. The parallels between his high school threats and the recent attack are striking, offering potential insights into Crooks’ mindset and planning.
