The investigation into the shooting at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania has revealed that the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, appears to have acted alone in carrying out the attack.
According to the FBI, there is currently “no indication of any mental health issues” with Crooks, and authorities have not yet identified any specific ideology or motive associated with the 20-year-old shooter. Crooks, a resident of the affluent Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, had a limited social media presence and was not previously known to law enforcement.
The firearm used in the attack, an AR-style rifle, was legally purchased by Crooks’ father. Investigators are still determining whether Crooks took the weapon without his father’s knowledge. Bomb-making materials were also found in Crooks’ vehicle and home, suggesting he may have been planning more than just the shooting.
Crooks’ political leanings appear to have been mixed, as he was registered as a Republican voter but had also made a small donation to a progressive political action committee. Former classmates described him as a “quiet, lonely nerd” who was often bullied for his unusual dress and poor shooting skills.
“He was bullied almost every day,” said Jason Kohler, a former high school classmate of Crooks. “He was just an outcast, and you know how kids are nowadays.”
Despite the lack of a clear motive, the FBI is investigating the attack as a potential act of domestic terrorism. “Our number one goal here is to identify the motive of the subject and determine whether he had any other associates or anyone else that was involved,” said Robert Wells, assistant director of the bureau’s counterterrorism division.
For now, the evidence suggests that Thomas Crooks acted alone in carrying out the shooting that left one bystander dead and two others critically injured. Authorities continue to search for any additional clues that could shed light on what drove the 20-year-old to target the former president at the campaign rally.