‘Sent chills down my spine’: School counselor of Trump shooter remembers him as ‘quiet young man’

PITTSBURGH — New details are emerging about Thomas Crooks, 20, who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump over the weekend.

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Former Bethel Park guidance counselor Jim Knapp retired in 2022 and found out the news Sunday morning when he received a call from the school principal.

“Hearing Thomas’s name sent chills down my spine,” Knapp said.

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In an interview with Channel 11′s Cara Sapida, he asked how he would describe Thomas.

“Quiet! Very quiet young man. He was the type of person you pretty much knew he wanted to be by himself,” Knapp explained.

Investigators are working to determine a motive. There have been differing reports about Thomas being bullied. Bethel Park school district said they don’t have any reports of it. Community members have argued that oftentimes bullying goes unreported. Knapp said many times reports come in through the school’s anonymous tipline.

Knapps says those would be in student files, and there were none.

“Yes ma’am, that would have been reported and placed in the computer, the notes would have been taken and we’d have been responsible for letting the appropriate people know,” Knapp said.“I really want to go out and say that this young man... Something happened, mental health kicked in... something evil happened in this world and he snapped and whatever occurred, occurred. Bethel Park has always taken the proactive approach towards bullying and mental health.”

Jim said he initially wasn’t going to speak out, but felt it was important to share what he did remember from his time as Thomas’s counselor.

“I wish I could say more... we feel for the families affected,” he said.

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