The father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin of former President Donald Trump, has spoken publicly for the first time since the incident, revealing that the family is focused on their well-being.
Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, made these remarks while leaving a grocery store on Monday. “We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space,” Crooks told Fox News as he loaded groceries into his car.
He added, “We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so – until then, we have no comment.” This marks the first time Crooks has spoken out since his 20-year-old son opened fire with an AR-15 rifle during Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The attempted assassin was shot dead by a Secret Service counter-sniper moments after he managed to graze the former president’s ear with a bullet.
Thomas Matthew Crooks’ father, a registered Libertarian, had legally purchased the rifle used in the attack. The family has been cooperating with authorities as the investigation into the assassination attempt continues.
Investigators have yet to determine a motive for the attack. Searches of the younger Crooks’ phone revealed photos of Trump, President Biden, and other senior government officials. Additionally, he had researched the dates for the Democratic National Convention and Trump’s appearances.
The incident has raised many questions and concerns, but for now, the Crooks family is requesting privacy as they navigate this challenging time. The authorities continue to probe into the background and motivations behind this shocking event.