Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter

A classmate of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be Trump assassin, lifts the lid on his alarming past, including bullying, threats of school violence, and a smug dislike for politicians.

The FBI has reached out to Vincent Taormina, a former classmate of Thomas Matthew Crooks, after he publicly revealed that the gunman had confronted him years ago over his support for former President Donald Trump.

"They called me…honestly just asked me for names and if I could give [them] much else," Taormina, 20, told Fox News Digital.

Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter

Agents inquired about Crooks' social circle and his purported dislike for candidates like Trump, Senator Bernie Sanders, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, Taormina expressed skepticism about providing useful information, stating that he hadn't had any contact with the gunman in years.

Taormina recounted a school shooting threat that he believed originated from Crooks' close friend group. "They were definitely the type, and they did, make threats to shoot up our school," he said.

Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter

Despite the rumors, Taormina emphasized that there was no concrete evidence linking Crooks specifically to the threat. He did, however, recall Crooks disappearing from school for several days afterward.

Another classmate, Sarah D'Angelo, expressed her doubts about Crooks' involvement in the threat, which occurred when they were in middle school.

Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter

However, on July 13, 2024, the former math whiz turned killer. Crooks climbed onto a building during Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle.

He fatally shot a 50-year-old father of two named Corey Comperatore and critically wounded David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. Trump sustained a minor injury to his right ear.

Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter

Secret Service counter-snipers neutralized Crooks at the scene. Images show him lying dead on a rooftop less than 150 yards from where Trump had been speaking.

Taormina believes that someone in Crooks' friend group must have known something that triggered his violent attack. "Everybody, anybody who knew him-knew him, should have seen something," he said. "They should have known something was up."

Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter

A federal investigation into Crooks' motives and potential help is underway. The FBI is examining his laptop, cellphone, and rifle and interviewing witnesses.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to submit tips at http://tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Former Classmate Reveals Troubling Past and Motive of Trump Shooter