THOMAS Crooks’ father has been seen for the first time since his son’s assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
Matthew Crooks avoided questions about the shooting after his 20-year-old son opened fire at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, killing one attendee and wounding two others.
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Gunmen killed Crooks after he shot Trump, severing the former president’s ear and causing him to fall to the ground as he was surrounded by Secret Service agents.
The former president then raised his fist as he left the chaotic scene with his face visibly dripping with blood.
The shooter’s father has been located Fox News Digital On Monday, he left a supermarket with a cart full of groceries, marking the first time he had been seen in public since the shooting, which killed former fire chief Corey Compatore.
Matthew was identified by a local business employee and a neighbor after leaving the store with a masked woman.
READ MORE ABOUT SHOOTING RALLY
“We will release a statement when our lawyer advises us to do so – until then, we have no comment,” he told Fox News Digital as he loaded his bags into his car.
“We just want to try and take care of ourselves right now. Please just give us our space.”
His father had previously expressed confusion when CNN asked for comment just hours after the shooting, when he said he was still trying to figure out “what the hell is going on.”
The bandits’ parents are cooperating as the FBI continues to investigate the shooter’s motive for the shooting – which he committed with his father’s rifle.
The agency is investigating how Crooks avoided police at the rally, as shocking details about the shooting emerged at the Secret Service hearing into the attempted assassination.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris testified to Congress on Tuesday that the local police unit was left to secure the roof where Crooks climbed to point his gun at Trump.
The hearing revealed that two police officers spotted the shooter, who they deemed “suspicious” as he walked outside the rally.
“He was identified by these members as a suspect, in part because of this,” Paris said.
“And then, at some point, he produced the rangefinder that heightened that suspicion.”
Donald Trump rally filming schedule
Donald Trump was shot during his rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.
1 p.m.: Doors open on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show, where Trump was scheduled to speak at 5 p.m.
4:11 pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:10 p.m.: Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, later identified as the shooter, was first identified as a person of interest.
5:30 p.m.: Crooks was located with a rangefinder.
5:30 p.m.: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
5:52 p.m.: Crooks was located on the roof by the Secret Service.
6:02 pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:09 p.m.: Two sniper teams positioned in buildings to the north and south behind the rally stage have been repositioned and locked in on Crooks.
6:12 p.m.: Shots were fired toward the stage as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12 p.m.: The Secret Service returns fire, confirming that the shooter is dead.
6:12 p.m.: Trump was led off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42 pm: The Secret Service confirmed that Trump is safe.
7:24 p.m.: The shooter and a rally attendee are confirmed dead by police.
8:42 pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49 p.m.: The Secret Service confirms that the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain seriously injured.
The officers said they abandoned their post through the second-story window above the roof, where Crooks eventually climbed to look for him on the ground.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following a national backlash over the agency’s failure to protect Trump at the rally.
Cheatle took full responsibility for the security failure at the hearing, telling angry lawmakers that she would “move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like the one on July 13 does not happen again.”
Donald Trump’s full statement after the rally shooting
Former President Donald Trump provided an update on Truth Social following the shooting that occurred at his rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.
“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies for their quick response to the shooting that just occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person who died at the rally and also to the family of another person who was seriously injured.
“It is incredible that such an act could happen in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who has since passed away.
“I was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong as I heard a buzzing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet tearing through the skin.
“There was a lot of bleeding, then I realized what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The former president lashed out at the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, blaming them for the near-murder.
“The Biden/Harris administration did not adequately protect me and I was forced to take a bullet for democracy,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO THIS!”
This occurs as:
Investigators believe the gun used in the shooting was purchased by Crooks’ father at least six months ago. He is believed to have acted alone.
Although some have alleged that Crooks was relentlessly bullied at school, his former school counselor said he never saw any warning signs during Crooks’ time at Bethel Park High School.
“I can honestly say that Thomas Crooks was a quiet young man who was often alone. […] but I can assure you he was not intimidated,” said retired councilman Jim Knapp.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
