Was Thomas Matthew Crooks on psychotropic medications? Parents revealed to be mental health professionals who seemingly missed all the clues that their son was undergoing a mental health crises.
Define irony? The father of the 20 year old gunman who sought to assassinate Donald Trump was visited by the FBI Monday morning amid ongoing questions as to what may have led to the son staging a daring attack over the weekend.
Matthew Crooks, 53, was seen opening the door at the family’s modest Bethel Park, Pennsylvania home as FBI agents sought to interview the father in the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting which left the former President with a bullet ripping through his right ear, one attendee killed and two others seriously injured.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service snipers within moments of getting off 8 gunshots from a nearby manufacturing rooftop overlooking the rally where Trump addressed supporters.
Mental health professional parents
To date the father has yet to publicly address the actions of his son, previously telling CNN he was still trying to figure out ‘what the hell is going on,’ but said he would ‘wait until I talk to law enforcement’ before speaking about his son.
A profile of the gunman’s parents revealed, Matthew Crooks working as a licensed behavioral therapist specializing in rehabilitation. Of note, Crooks’ mother, Mary Elizabeth, 53, is also a behavioral therapist.
The son who was revealed to be mercilessly bullied and teased at school and who was also described as being a loner by former classmates had seemingly struggled adapting with the outside world.
Immersed in playing video games and fascinated by hunting, the 20 year old is reported to have had a volatile relationship with his parents, including assertions that he had been placed with his grandparents at age 18 following behavioural issues at home, before eventually returning to the family home.
Crooks was a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center – where he provided food and care for post-hospital elderly and sick people. The gunman’s employers that he had a clean background check and ‘performed his job without concern.’
Father of Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks breaks cover for the first time since terrifying assassination attempt https://t.co/YUOPjK2KKc pic.twitter.com/QzqRWlOWn1
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) July 16, 2024
Mental health crises
Intrigue has led to commentators wondering to what degree the parents were aware of ongoing mental health issues the 20 year old may have been struggling with and whether the son had been offered treatment by his mental health professional parents.
While no statement has yet to be released from the family, some had wondered if the son had been placed on psychotropic medications. A common contention is whether a correlation exists between prevalence of psychotropic medications and mass shooters. The parents would have had access to such medication and may have prescribed their son such drugs.
Investigators stated Thomas Crooks using an AR-15 style rifle purchased by his father some six months earlier, with both father and son members of Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in Clairton, Pennsylvania, the dailymail reported.
The club, of which Crooks is a listed member, is set in 180 acres of woodland has a membership of more than 2000 and facilities including indoor and outdoor archery ranges, rifle ranges to 200 yards, pistol ranges and dog training areas.
Following the shooting, investigators found bomb making explosives in the vehicle Crooks had driven to the rally along with explosives at the family home. The discovery led to many wondering how it was possible that the 20 year old could acquire such material, never mind bring it home in the presence of his parents, who may or may not have known. Or perhaps ought to have known.
Which is to wonder how could the gunman’s mental health professional parents not see or at least be aware that their son was undergoing a crises?
In the days following Saturday’s attempted assassination, investigators told of not finding comments or statements the 20 year old may have made on social media along with ideological positions. The FBI continued to state there were no obvious clues as to what may have motivated the son launching his attack.
