A home believed to be connected to the shooter in the assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Bethel Park, Pa.AP
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The father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin of Donald Trump, was profiled by the former president's 2016 campaign.
As part of the Trump campaign, they regularly profiled potential voters that they felt could be persuaded by advertising and powerful campaign rhetoric on certain issues.
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In the case of Crooks Sr., it was decided that he would be receptive to a powerful message on the topic of gun ownership.
Whilst there hasn't yet been a clear indication of motive in Thomas Matthew Crooks' assassination attempt on Donald Trump, a neighbor claimed the family had MAGA decor in their yard until recently.
What information are the authorities working with in their investigation?
- Father Identified as Pro-Gun Voter: Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, legally purchased the AR-15 rifle used in his son's attack. The Trump campaign identified him as a crucial swing-state voter likely to respond to pro-gun messaging.
- Database Analysis: The campaign analyzed 6.7 million people in Pennsylvania to target voters with pro-gun messages. Crooks' father, a ed Libertarian, was seen as a strong Republican, likely a gun owner, and "hunter."
- High-Scoring Individual: He was among the top 20 highest-scoring individuals in Bethel Park, a town with a population of 19,000.
- Mother Also Flagged: The gunman's mother, a ed Democrat, was also flagged by the Trump campaign as a likely gun owner receptive to pro-gun messaging.
The Crooks family has remained silent and is cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.