An intelligent loner who left very few traces in social media and without strong political convictions. This is how Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who was shot dead by the American security service Secret Service after shooting at the former President of the USA, Donald Trump, is described.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was, according to information to CNN, supposed to have told his boss that he needed to take a day off on Saturday.
I have something important to do, he is supposed to have said and added that he would be back at work the day after.
Those responsible for security at the campaign meeting were made aware that Crooks had brought a rangefinder with him when he entered the area. Rangefinders are used by snipers to estimate distances. Despite this, he was able to get up on the roof and fire several shots before being shot dead.
Many question marks
The USA's federal police, FBI, has cracked Crooks' mobile phone, searched his home, car, and computer without getting closer to any answers to the many questions that still remain after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Saturday.
During the search of Crooks' family's house and car, the FBI found materials for manufacturing some kind of bombs.
Except for an account on the chat function Discord, the police have not found any digital footprints after Crooks.
A former employee at the school where Crooks attended said to Reuters, the day after the deed, that Crooks did not stand out politically during his school time.
Something triggered the young guy to drive up to Butler yesterday and do what he did.
No political ideology
According to American media, Crooks was registered as a Republican before the autumn election, but he is also supposed to have donated 15 dollars to the liberal organization Progressive Turnout Project via the Democratic donation platform Actblue.
The FBI is investigating the deed as "potential domestic terrorism", but without finding signs of radicalization or hatred towards Trump or any other political ideological conviction.
Practiced at the shooting range
Crooks had previously, during his school time, tried out for the shooting team, but was considered too bad to be accepted. However, he was a member of a shooting club about two miles from his home. The club's owner tells the news agency AP that they know very little about him and that what happened at the campaign meeting was terrible.
This is not what we stand for, says the shooting club's owner Bill Sellitto.
The shooting club, which has an outdoor range with target distances of up to 170 meters, is strictly controlled. Only members are allowed, reports BBC.
The day before the deed at the campaign meeting, Crooks had practiced at the rifle range, shows federal intelligence information that AP has taken part of.
