Classmates of Attempted Trump Assassin Reveal All

The neighbors and classmates of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the young man who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump, recall him as a harmless young man.

They shared their thoughts during interviews conducted last week.

Jason Kohler, who attended Bethel Park High School with Crooks, told CNN that his classmate seemed to be a loner who was “bullied almost every day” by other students for wearing camouflage to class and for his quiet behavior. 

The classmate stated Crooks had “no facial expression” when walking through the school hallways. 

“He wasn’t, like, with the clique, so he always had, I guess, a target on his back,” he also said.

Another former student at the school, Sarah D’Angelo, recalled that Crooks was “a quiet kid, not obviously political or violent in any way.” 

D’Angelo stated that he only spoke with her when their class was waiting for their graduation ceremony to start.

Many recalled him as a straight-A student. 

Dean Sierka, one of the Crooks’ neighbors, stated that he had known the young man and his parents for years, as they were neighbors separated by only a few houses.

Sierka’s daughter attended school with Crooks from elementary school through Bethel Park High School and said she remembers him as quiet and shy.

The neighbor and his daughter said they would see him at least once a week, often when walking to work.

“You wouldn’t have expected this,” Sierka stated. “The parents and the family are all really nice people.”

Crooks was a dietary aid, a job usually preparing food at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, less than a mile from his home. 

In a statement, Marcie Grimm, the facility’s administrator, stated that she was “shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement.”

“Thomas Matthew Crooks performed his job without concern, and his background check was clean,” Grimm added. “We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials at this time.”

“Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further on any specifics,” she noted in her statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the former president and the victims impacted by this terrible tragedy. We condemn all acts of violence.”

Authorities investigating Trump’s attempted assassination discovered explosive devices in Crooks’ vehicle.

His car was found near the site of the campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the shooting took place.

A video, which had been recorded during Crooks’ time at Bethel Park High School, shows a classmate harassing him. 

In the video, Crooks can be seen seated at his desk while another student keeps tugging at his pants leg despite Crooks’ verbal protests.