Just another day in Butler, Pennsylvania, until shockwaves rippled through a crowd gathered to hear former President Donald Trump speak. An unsuspecting classmate of the alleged shooter mentioned there was ‘nothing out of the ordinary’ before this startling event unfolded.
While addressing his supporters, Trump was unexpectedly struck in the ear, a moment that saw him clasping the injured spot before taking cover, all under the watchful eyes of his Secret Service team.
In a scene that could only be described as cinematic, Trump, even after such a close call, fist-pumped to the crowd and seemed to chant ‘fight,’ a gesture that’s as Trump as it gets.
The incident left two attendees in critical condition, with one, Corey Comperatore, tragically losing his life.
The spotlight quickly turned to the alleged assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, whose actions that day were as shocking as they were fatal. Crooks, now deceased, was taken down by Secret Service, who acted swiftly to ‘neutralize’ the threat.
The agency confirmed in a statement, “US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated.”
As the dust settles, those who knew Crooks once upon a time in school corridors shared their perspectives, painting a picture of a boy who excelled academically, especially in history and government, yet remained unremarkably nice, according to classmate Summer Barkley.
“Anything on government and history he seemed to know about,” Barkley told the BBC. “But it was nothing out of the ordinary…he was always nice.”
However, not all memories of Crooks align, as some classmates depicted a different narrative. Jameson Myers recalled Crooks’ less-than-stellar attempt to join the high school rifle team, highlighting a concerning lack of precision that made his presence on the team unsafe.
“He didn’t just not make the team,” Myers explained to ABC News. “He was asked not to come back because how bad of a shot he was, it was considered, like, dangerous.”
Another rifle team peer who preferred anonymity echoed this sentiment, noting Crooks’ poor fit for the team due to his dreadful shooting skills.
Beyond gun handling, classmates like Jason Kohler hinted at a lonelier side of Crooks, sharing with CNN his struggles with bullying and social isolation during his school days.
Sarah D’Angelo, also from Crooks’ school days, remembered him to CNN as “a quiet kid, not obviously political or violent in any way.”
Amidst the aftermath, Trump turned to Truth Social to express his gratitude towards divine intervention which he believes spared him and to reiterate his resolve, stating, “It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”
“We will fear not, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” he continued, his message a blend of defiance and a call for unity and strength in troubling times.
“Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”
Trump concluded his sentiments by rallying for unity and resilience, “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
“I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”