Former US President Donald Trump was attacked during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday (July 13), shocking communities across America and in Pennsylvania.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed that the assailant targeting former President Trump was a 20-year-old white Pennsylvania youth named Thomas Matthew Crooks. He was shot dead on the spot by Secret Service agents.
The day after the shooting, some of Crooks’ high school classmates and teachers told a reporter that they were shocked by the incident, describing Crooks as “quiet” and “introverted,” who “usually kept to himself.” Residents of Crooks’ neighborhood also expressed to the reporter that the shooting disrupted the peace and beauty of their community.
Jason Mackey, a substitute math teacher at Bethel Park High School where Crooks attended, told Epoch Times, “This kid was more on the quiet side. He usually kept to himself.”
Mackey recalled that Crooks was a senior at the school and may have seen him in class or other activities.
Mackey also mentioned that Crooks had won awards in the field of math. “I heard he won an award in math,” he said. “It was in a high school competition.”
Mackey said that Crooks’ action of assassinating President Trump was unimaginable. “It is truly shocking that something like this happened,” he expressed. “No one could have anticipated this, especially in our own community. It is indeed something that I believe nobody could have foreseen, and something that nobody could have imagined anyone doing.”
On the second day of the shooting, Crooks’ high school acquaintance Amtamas Kubilius told Epoch Times that some of their classmates were “very shocked” by Crooks’ assassination attempt on President Trump. Kubilius, who graduated high school in 2021, went to school with Crooks at Bethel Park High School, a year ahead of him.
“I have talked with some people, and they are all very shocked. They are shocked by what happened. Because it was truly unexpected. He seemed like a good kid, he did well in school. It seemed random,” Kubilius said.
Kubilius mentioned that he had seen Crooks being bullied at school. “He seemed like a quiet kid, somewhat smart,” he continued. “He was bullied on the public bus.” “He tried to keep his distance from teachers.”
Kubilius believed that shooters “usually encounter some difficult times at the beginning. They are either bullied, or their parents are poor, and life is tough.”
He said that he had seen posts from Crooks on social media, “everywhere.” “He posted a video with his name, saying ‘I hate the Republican Party, I hate Trump.’ He said these things.” Kubilius believed that it might be these reasons that led Crooks to commit such an extreme act.
Amanda Lovas, another high school classmate of Crooks, expressed to Epoch Times that she was “really surprised.” “I never thought he would do something like that.”
Lovas mentioned that she had seen Crooks often at the bus stop while waiting for the bus, and at that time, she did not find him peculiar or isolative. “It was completely unexpected.”
Stanley Priselac, a resident of Crooks’ community in Bethel Park, told Epoch Times that the shooting disrupted the peace and beauty of the neighborhood.
“You could see, on Sunday morning, it is very quiet here. But shocking and surprising that it happened so close to where you live. You hope this place is known for good things, not terrible things.”
Priselac mentioned that before the shooting, the community was peaceful as usual, without any anomalies. “This is a quiet community, you wouldn’t see that kind of thing here. Everyone goes about their lives, going to work, shopping, in and out. There are no unusual circumstances in this community. It’s a very quiet and beautiful community.”
Priselac added that residents in the community have mixed views on former President Trump, “some in support, some against.” Priselac stated that he remains neutral.
Alex, originally from Minnesota and currently attending university in Pittsburgh, arrived at the Bethel Park community the day after the shooting. He expressed his support for the former President Trump to the Epoch Times, saying, “You know, he was shot yesterday.”
Alex said that he had been standing with a “MAGA (Make America Great Again)” sign for over an hour, despite most passersby ignoring him. He supported Trump because he liked the strength the former President displayed, stating, “I believe as a president, you need to show strength because if you want peace, you have to show strength, right?”
“I think Trump appears more powerful for his age. Making America great again; Trump is indestructible.”
Alex believed that inflation rates during Trump’s tenure were much lower than now. “The current inflation is just crazy. I lean more towards Trump’s isolationist stance. I think globalization will gradually slow down this century.”
“So, make America great again. I believe Trump can better prepare us for the end of globalization and adopt an isolationist strategy.”