A former classmate of would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks says the 20-year-old gunman once mocked him over his support of former President Donald Trump.
EXCLUSIVE: BETHEL PARK, Penn. – A former classmate of would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks says the 20-year-old gunman once mocked him over his support of former President Donald Trump and had a general disdain for mainstream politicians across the political aisle. 'I brought up the fact that I'm Hispanic and, you know, I'm for Trump. And he said, 'Well, you're Hispanic, so shouldn't you hate Trump?'' Vincent Taormina told Fox News Digital Tuesday. 'No.
He just did not like politicians, especially with the choices that we had,' Taormina said. 'He did not like our politicians.' Taormina that Crooks was usually quiet, except on certain topics that he seemed passionate about, including math and politics. And on those issues, he could be 'smug arrogant,' he added. 'He did not like our politicians.
They were definitely the type, and they did, make threats to shoot up our school,' he said. Although he and other classmates suspected Crooks himself was behind a threat, he said he had no firm proof. But after the threat came in, the future would-be assassin didn't return to school for a few days. Crooks, 20, killed a 50-year-old father of two named Corey Comperatore, critically wounded David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, according to authorities.
After the rumors began swirling, Crooks' demeanor changed, Taormina said. He got quieter and stopped confronting people about politics. But he had enough friends, Taormina argued, that someone must've seen a red flag along the line. 'Everybody, anybody who knew him-knew him, should have seen something,' he said.
Searches of the suspect’s house and vehicle wrapped up Sunday night. The bureau also said the FBI had interviewed nearly 100 witnesses, including members of law enforcement, as of Monday afternoon. Anyone with information on the case is asked to submit tips at http://tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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