The assassination attempt on President Trump has taken a new, chilling twist. It turns out the parents of the would-be shooter, Thomas Crooks, had dialed up the police to report their estranged son’s erratic behavior mere hours before he perched himself on a rooftop and took aim at President Trump. This latest revelation raises some uncomfortable questions about how this tragedy could have been averted and why the authorities’ response fell so painfully short.
Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old recent high school graduate with a penchant for keeping his head down—both literally and metaphorically—managed to fire off eight rounds from a stolen high-caliber rifle before he was eliminated. The shocking part? His parents had already raised the alarm, pleading with local authorities to locate their troubled son who seemed to be spiraling out of control.
NO WAY! Breaking: Thomas Matthew Crooks' parents called the police right before the rally, reporting that their son was missing and they were worried about what he was up to!
This is really disturbing news and something is not adding up!
I believe he didn’t act alone!… pic.twitter.com/JyzSy690rA
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) July 17, 2024
????BREAKING: The Parents of Trump Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks Called Police Hours Before To Report Their Son Had an AR-15 and Was Missing ⚠️
Secret Service was never informed of this, and it just hApPeNeD to be the one building local law enforcement was tAsKeD with guarding… pic.twitter.com/cNpXAmtVWd
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) July 17, 2024
BREAKING: Thomas Crook’s parents called police to report their son was missing a few hours before he attempted to ass*ss*n*te DJT pic.twitter.com/dNghYQmw6g
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 17, 2024
The Bureau is now diving deep into an investigation to unravel how Crooks, despite his parents’ warnings, was able to position himself in such a prime spot for an attack. Adding to the intrigue, it’s come to light that a local police officer had backed away from Crooks just seconds before he embarked on his deadly mission. The Secret Service, helmed by Kimberly Cheatle, defended their decision not to place an agent on the roof—an oversight that enabled Crooks to get a direct line of sight to the stage where President Trump stood.
While one might expect a would-be assassin to have a clear political vendetta, Crooks’ motives are as murky as a foggy night. Despite initial claims suggesting he hailed from a staunch MAGA household, neighbors were quick to refute this. Amy, a local GOP captain, pointed out the glaring absence of Trump yard signs in front of Crooks’ home, a detail that threw a wrench into the narrative.
Digging deeper, it was discovered that Crooks, although a registered Republican, had recently donated to a progressive PAC supporting President Biden’s re-election. His mother is a registered Democrat, and his father identifies as a Libertarian. This political mosaic only adds layers to the already confounding question: What drove Crooks to such an extreme act?
Neighbors recounted eerie encounters with Crooks in the days leading up to the rally. Amy described seeing him walking with his head down, an image that seems innocuous but takes on a haunting quality in hindsight. She even noted a gut feeling that something was off on the day of the rally, prompting her to stay home—a decision that may have saved her life.
This tragic episode underscores the critical importance of timely and effective communication between concerned citizens and law enforcement. The missed signals in Thomas Crooks’ case serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise when warnings go unheeded. As the investigation continues, one can only hope that lessons will be learned to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again.