Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student

Sarah D'Angelo, a former high school classmate of Thomas Matthew Crooks, shared her recollections of the 20-year-old gunman, noting his reserved demeanor and lack of expressed political views.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been described by a former classmate as a quiet and unassuming individual. Sarah D'Angelo, a nursing student who attended Bethel Park High School with Crooks for eight years, shared her recollections of their interactions in an interview with Fox News Digital.

"He had a small friend group," D'Angelo said. "He wasn't a loner but was not the most popular kid in the class."

Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student

Crooks' political leanings have been a subject of speculation, with some pointing to his registration as a Republican voter and others to his $15 campaign donation to a progressive political action committee. However, D'Angelo stated that Crooks did not reveal his political affiliation in class, even during an American politics course.

"We had [an] American politics class. It was half a year during senior year," she said. "And he never made any of his political views outward."

Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student

D'Angelo said that Crooks was a good student and graduated with honors. She recalled her last interaction with him at their high school graduation.

"He was just a few seats away from me [at the graduation ceremony], D'Angelo said. "I remember talking to him and another kid, just commenting on the day and the length of the ceremony."

Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student

Crooks participated in class discussions and was always kind to those around him, according to D'Angelo. She expressed shock and disbelief upon learning of his involvement in the assassination attempt against Trump.

"It's shocking to hear someone from your high school, that you knew, would do something as tragic as that," she said. "I honestly originally thought it was a relative, because I heard Thomas, and he never went by that. He went by Tom or Tommy."

Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student

D'Angelo and her community are eager to move on from this incident and emphasize that it does not represent the values of their close-knit town.

"This is a community, a close community that is family-oriented," she said. "We're good American citizens, and Bethel High School is really close."

Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student

"This experience just did not seem to add up to happen in Bethel Park," she said. "Our hearts go out to the families that were affected in this."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Crooks' family and legal counsel for comment.

Former Classmate of Trump's Would-Be Assassin Recalls Quiet, Unassuming Student