Staff Reports
In a shocking revelation, a Hispanic ex-classmate of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, has come forward to shed light on his disdain for former President Donald Trump. According to Vincent Taormina, Crooks was not just a critic of Trump, but someone who thought anyone supporting the former president was stupid. Talk about a real class act.
Taormina described Crooks as being “passionate” about politics but claimed that he despised “all” politicians. Well, at least he was consistent in his hatred. But what’s truly baffling is how Crooks, at the tender age of 16, already felt that he disliked all politicians. Talk about teenage angst taken to a whole new level.
JUST IN: Former Thomas Crooks classmate says Crooks was a known Trump hater and was a "know it all."
The FBI still doesn’t know what Crooks' motive could have been.
Hispanic classmate Vincent Taormina recalled a political disagreement he had with Crooks after he told him that… pic.twitter.com/LzgnohInnw
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 17, 2024
In a conversation with Taormina, Crooks seemed flabbergasted when Taormina, a Hispanic himself, mentioned that he supported Trump. The shooter retorted with the brilliant logic of a petulant child, stating, “Well, you’re Hispanic, so shouldn’t you hate Trump?” It seems Crooks believed that one’s ethnicity determined their political beliefs. Last time we checked, being Hispanic doesn’t automatically mean you have to toe a particular political line. But hey, who needs rational thinking when you’re busy being ignorant?
Taormina stood his ground and expressed his admiration for Trump’s presidency, only to be met with a condescending insinuation from Crooks that he was just plain stupid. Ah, the mark of a true “know-it-all” who thinks they have all the answers. According to Taormina, Crooks acted like he knew everything, especially when it came to politics. Guess he missed the memo that wisdom comes with age and life experience, not arrogance.
Even more disturbing is the revelation that Crooks had a tendency to be smug and arrogant when discussing his views, particularly politics. Talk about a walking embodiment of every conservative’s worst nightmare—someone with an unshakable belief in their own intellectual superiority. No wonder it got under Taormina’s skin. Who wouldn’t be irked by such pompous behavior?
But here’s the kicker: Crooks wasn’t some isolated loner. He had a friend group, a group that apparently had no qualms about making threats to shoot up their own school. Yes, you read that right. The shooter’s friends were the type who would casually throw around threats of violence, because that’s just how they rolled. How comforting.
As investigators dig deeper into Crooks’ motive, it seems they haven’t found any particular ideology he adhered to. However, they did stumble upon some concerning online activity. Crooks had written on a gaming platform, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.” That sentence alone is ominous enough to raise eyebrows. And let’s not forget the internet searches he conducted in July, which included terms like “Trump,” “Biden,” “when is DNC convention,” and “July 13 Trump rally.” Coincidence? I think not.
While the exact motive behind Crooks’ heinous act remains unclear, his disdain for Trump and anyone who supported him is now out in the open. It’s a tragic reminder that hatred and arrogance can fester in unexpected places. Let’s hope that as a society, we can learn from this and work towards a more inclusive and respectful discourse, regardless of our political differences. But judging by the behavior of some, that might be wishful thinking. Stay vigilant, America.
