Why did a nursing home aide try to kill Trump? The unanswered questions from the rally shooting

In the two days since Donald Trump’s right ear was grazed by a gunman’s bullet at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on Saturday, a complete picture of the 20-year-old suspect is yet to emerge publicly—and details of what led up to the stunning event remain unclear.

Thomas Matthew Crooks had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness, and “was not known to the FBI prior to this incident,” the bureau said. The nursing home dietary aide’s family is working with investigators, who say they have not discovered any evidence of Crooks’ involvement with a broader plot, but are still treating the unsuccessful assassination attempt as a potential case of domestic terrorism.

In an email on Monday to The Independent, administrator Marcie Grimm of the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, said, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement as Thomas performed his job without concern and his background check was clean.”

Crooks, who was shot dead on a rooftop near the rally site by a Secret Service sniper, is a registered Republican who donated $15 to a Democratic voter-turnout group several years ago, public records show. His father, a licensed behavioral therapist, is a Libertarian. His mom, also a behavioral therapist, is a Democrat. Speaking to The Independent, Crooks’ uncle said he had “no idea” what might have inspired his nephew to take up arms against a major presidential candidate.

The FBI, which has primary jurisdiction over the case, has so far received more than 2,000 tips from members of the public, according to Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek of the bureau’s Pittsburgh Field Office, who said investigators continue to search for answers to the myriad questions that remain.

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