Shocking actions of Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old involved in an attempted assassination at a Trump rally, have deeply affected his former classmates, who remember him as a reserved yet academically inclined student. Sarah D’Angelo, a nursing student who attended school with Crooks for eight years, shared her recollections with Fox News Digital.
“He wasn’t a loner but was not the most popular kid in the class,” D’Angelo noted, describing Crooks as having a small group of friends and a quiet demeanor. Despite their limited interactions, she remembered him as a diligent student who graduated with honors, sporting a silver cord at their graduation ceremony, symbolizing a GPA of 3.85 or higher.
Reflecting on their time together, D’Angelo remarked on Crooks’ reserved nature and academic focus. “He was a good student and participated as much as a normal person would,” she said, adding that he never outwardly expressed his political views despite being registered as a Republican and making a donation to a progressive political action committee.
In the aftermath of the incident, D’Angelo expressed shock and disbelief. “It’s sad, and I was so nauseous on Sunday hearing about it because you don’t think something like that would happen so close,” she said, referring to her reaction upon learning of Crooks’ involvement in the tragic event.
The community of Bethel Park, where Crooks attended high school, shares a sentiment of moving past the incident. D’Angelo’s reflections highlight a community in disbelief over the actions of someone they once knew, shedding light on the impact such events have on local communities.
