A former classmate of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman involved in a recent shooting incident, has shed light on Crooks' attitudes towards politics and his behavior leading up to the tragic event.
The classmate, Vincent Taormina, revealed that Crooks had expressed a general disdain for mainstream politicians across the political spectrum. Taormina recounted an incident during their time at Bethel Park High School in 2016 when Crooks mocked him for supporting former President Donald Trump, despite Taormina being Hispanic. Crooks displayed a smug and arrogant demeanor, particularly when discussing topics like math and politics, according to Taormina.
While Crooks was known to be quiet, he was vocal and passionate about certain issues, often coming across as condescending and superior in his tone. Taormina also mentioned that Crooks had a small group of friends, some of whom had made threats to shoot up their school in the past.
Following the recent shooting incident where Crooks killed one individual and injured two others, authorities have been investigating his motives and potential accomplices. Despite having no criminal history or documented mental illnesses, Crooks was able to legally obtain the murder weapon through his father in 2013.
The FBI is conducting a thorough investigation, analyzing Crooks' electronic devices and interviewing numerous witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. While Crooks' behavior had reportedly changed after rumors began circulating about his involvement in a threat against the school, Taormina expressed surprise that no one had noticed any red flags indicating Crooks' potential for violence.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to understand the circumstances that led to the tragic incident and whether there were any warning signs that could have been detected earlier.
