Thomas Matthew Crooks, who recently attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump, had a history of violent threats dating back to his high school days. Five years ago, Crooks threatened to “shoot up” Bethel Park High School, causing significant alarm among students and parents.
In 2019, Crooks used an anonymous online platform to warn classmates to stay home, implying bombs were placed in the school’s bathrooms. This threat led to many students, including Vincent Taormina, staying home. “Half of us just didn’t come to school the next day — I didn’t. But it wasn’t taken seriously,” Taormina recalled. School officials, however, dismissed the incident.
This high school threat is now a key element in the FBI’s investigation into Crooks’ recent assassination attempt on Trump. At a Trump campaign rally, Crooks fired multiple shots from a rooftop, targeting the former president. While Trump escaped with only a grazed ear, the attack resulted in the death of a married father of two and left two others seriously injured. Explosives were also found in Crooks’ car parked near the rally site.
Crooks’ high school years were marked by severe bullying, leading to his nickname “the school shooter.” His absence from the yearbook in 2019 reflects his troubled school experience. Former classmates quickly identified him and his friends as the source of the threat, but no serious action was taken at the time.
The similarities between Crooks’ past threats and his recent actions are being scrutinized by criminologists, who are trying to piece together his motives. The echoes of his high school threats in the recent attack offer significant insights into his planning and state of mind.
This investigation highlights the importance of taking all threats seriously, as early warnings could potentially prevent future tragedies. Crooks’ case serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and thorough follow-up on all reported threats.
