The father of would-be Donald Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks was reportedly profiled by the former president’s 2016 campaign — as one neighbor claims the family had MAGA decor in their yard up until recently.
Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, who legally purchased the AR-15 rifle used in his son’s attack in Butler, Pa. over the weekend, was identified by the Trump campaign as a crucial swing state voter who was likely to respond favorably to pro-gun messaging, according to data obtained by Britian’s Channel 4 News.
The campaign’s private database analyzed 6.7 million people in the Keystone State — about half of the state’s population — to determine which voters could be targeted with messages about gun rights ahead of the 2016 election.
Crooks’ father, a registered Libertarian, was identified in the database as a strong Republican, likely a gun owner and “hunter.” He was among the top 20 highest-scoring people in their hometown of Bethel Park, which has a population of 19,000, according to the report.
The gunman’s mother, a registered Democrat, was also flagged by the Trump campaign as a likely gun owner who would be receptive to pro-gun messaging.
The 20-year-old gunman, who took a shot at Trump during a rally in Butler on Saturday, grazing Trump’s right ear and killing a hero firefighter and seriously injuring two others, lived with his parents in the Pittsburgh suburb.
The family’s Bethel Park home had pro-Trump and MAGA decor, including yard signs, up in the front yard until recently, one of the family’s neighbors told WPXI.
“There absolutely was MAGA-supporting things for a while,” said neighbor Kelly Little, who was evacuated from her home for 24 hours as authorities removed a device from the Crooks’ family home.
“It was very frustrating. It was exhausting. I’m glad that it’s over, but I do not look forward to all the strangers that have been lurking around our neighborhood,” she added.
The Crooks family has remained silent and is cooperating with authorities as they investigate the shooting.
Authorities have not yet shared a motive for the attack.