Northeast
Trump shooter Thomas Crooks' parents unlikely to face criminal charges, experts say
![Trump shooter Thomas Crooks' parents unlikely to face criminal charges, experts say Trump shooter Thomas Crooks' parents unlikely to face criminal charges, experts say](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Thomas-crooks-father-2.jpg)
Questions about whether the parents of would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks could face charges resulting from their son’s shooting crimes have arisen as officials release more information about his secluded personality and lack of a social life.
“You’d have to prove in some way beyond a reasonable doubt that [Crooks’ parents] aided and abetted his ability to plan this attempted assassination or, in some way, knew what he was doing and provided him some means to do it,” Pennsylvania-based attorney Matthew Mangino of Luxenberg, Garbett, Kelly and George told Fox News Digital. “That would be difficult to prove, I would think, beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Mangino added, however, that “civil liability is a completely different story.”
Pursuing civil action against Crooks’ parents would require “a preponderance of the evidence that … they could have or should have intervened to protect, not only the former president, but the public,” as well as the victim who died.
TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
An undated image of Thomas Matthew Crooks. (Handout via AFP)
Crooks apparently researched Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley sometime prior to the assassination attempt, a source familiar with the matter previously told Fox News Digital. In Crumbley’s case, both of his parents were charged and convicted on four counts of involuntary manslaughter related to their son’s crimes. One major difference between the Crumbley case and the Crooks case, however, is Crooks’ age.
Crooks was 20 when he was fatally shot by snipers while carrying out the assassination attempt on July 13. The FBI said during a Monday press conference call that Crooks’ father legally owned the AR-15 Crooks used to fire at the president and transferred ownership to his son sometime prior to the shooting.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: FBI SAYS GUNMAN CLIMBED HVAC, TRAVERSED ROOFTOPS TO SHOOTING PERCH
![Thomas Mathew Crooks](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Trump-shooter-Thomas-Crooksx27-parents-unlikely-to-face-criminal-charges.png)
Pictures of Thomas Mathew Crooks taken by a sniper. (Sen. Ron Johnson’s Office)
Crooks also purchased 25 firearms and six chemical precursors “of materials used to create the explosive devices recovered in the subject’s vehicle and home” after the assassination attempt, said Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge at the FBI Pittsburgh field office.
Crooks’ parents apparently told investigators that he had always been interested in science experiments, so they were used to getting packages addressed to their son at home.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: TEXTS REVEAL OFFICERS WERE AWARE OF CROOKS 90 MINUTES BEFORE SHOOTING
![The parents of former president Donald Trump's assassin arrive home](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722367104_301_Trump-shooter-Thomas-Crooksx27-parents-unlikely-to-face-criminal-charges.jpg)
The parents of Thomas Crooks, Matthew and Mary Crooks, return to their home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, was seen on Monday leaving a Pittsburgh office building that houses two law firms.
He declined to answer questions about whether his family had noticed warning signs before his son’s assassination attempt.
The shooter’s father previously told Fox News Digital that “We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so – until then, we have no comment. We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space.”
![Trump assassin's father Matthew Crooks waits outside of an office building](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722367104_537_Trump-shooter-Thomas-Crooksx27-parents-unlikely-to-face-criminal-charges.jpg)
Matthew Crooks waits outside an office building in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 29, 2024. Matthew Crooks is the father of would-be Trump assassin, Thomas Crooks. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
Brian Stewart, trial attorney at Parker & McConkie in Utah, said “no one” should require parents to supervise an adult “at all times (or at any time).”
“Based on the updated information the FBI has provided, it appears unlikely that Crooks’ parents will face criminal or civil liability for their son’s actions.”
Rojek said Crooks’ parents have been “extremely cooperative” with the FBI so far in their investigation. FBI officials also do not have evidence suggesting Crooks worked with any coconspirators to carry out his plan.
![Thomas Crooks' home](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722367104_653_Trump-shooter-Thomas-Crooksx27-parents-unlikely-to-face-criminal-charges.jpg)
Investigators visit Thomas Crooks’ neighbor. (Derek Shook/Fox News Digital)
“If the ongoing investigation were to reveal that Crooks’ father transferred the AR-15 to his son illegally or had some reason to expect it would be used to commit a crime, then criminal charges or civil claims could be possible,” Stewart said. “However, so far, the FBI reports that they have not found any information tying anyone else to the attack and do not believe that his parents had any indications of his plans to attempt to assassinate Trump.”
Stewart also said that if “any proof is found that the parents were in any way aware of the son’s plans to assassinate Trump, or if the parents were reckless in ignoring any alarming behavior or activities, a case against the parents could be made, and its success would obviously depend on the strength of the evidence.”
PENNSYLVANIA SWAT SNIPER SAYS TRUMP SHOOTER ‘JUST SEEMED OUT OF PLACE’ AS OFFICER WARNED OF GUNMAN BEFOREHAND
![Thomas Matthew Crooks yearbook photo over picture of man opening door.](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722367104_511_Trump-shooter-Thomas-Crooksx27-parents-unlikely-to-face-criminal-charges.jpg)
FBI agents visited the home of would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks’ home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. (AFP | Reuters/Aaron Josefczyk)
Nicole Brenecki, a New York City-based attorney, also pointed to Crooks’ age as a potential issue in filing criminal charges against his parents.
“Following the sentencing of James and Jennifer Crumbley in the Michigan school shooting case, the DA may consider bringing charges against the father of the Trump shooter. The biggest weakness of such a case would be Matthew Thomas Crooks’ age. He was almost 21 at the time of the shooting,” Brenecki said.
The FBI on Monday described Crooks as a “loner” and “highly intelligent,” citing his college education and his ability to hold a full-time job. Officials are still working to determine Crooks’ motive in the assassination attempt against Trump.
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Boston, MA
Red Sox Reportedly Land Much-Needed Pitching Help In Surprising Swap
![Red Sox Reportedly Land Much-Needed Pitching Help In Surprising Swap Red Sox Reportedly Land Much-Needed Pitching Help In Surprising Swap](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5200,h_2925,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_red_sox/01j42c6tvcbvwsdjarp7.jpg)
The Boston Red Sox have been looking for ways to add to the bullpen and reportedly found an option on Tuesday afternoon.
Boston has been one of the more aggressive teams in baseball with the trade deadline just a few hours away. The Red Sox are right in the mix for an American League Wild Card spot and desperately need to improve the bullpen.
After much speculation, the Red Sox reportedly landed a player who could help in Lucas Sims in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.
“Trade: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring reliever Lucas Sims from the Cincinnati Reds, according to sources familiar with the deal,” Murray said.
Boston’s move to acquire Sims is somewhat surprising because his name wasn’t tossed around much ahead of the deal. The Red Sox have been linked to a handful of players with Miami Marlins All-Star Tanner Scott being the biggest name over the last 24 hours.
Plus, the Red Sox are thin on lefties in the bullpen so some have speculated that would be a target ahead of the deadline. Sims is a right-handed reliever with a 3.57 ERA so far this season in 43 appearances with a 40-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 1/3 innings pitched.
Sims fills a need for Boston as a reliever in general. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Red Sox continue their pursuit of bullpen help over the next few hours with a lefty still needed.
More MLB: Yankees Cut Ex-Red Sox Top Prospect Acquired In Mookie Betts Trade
Pittsburg, PA
Pirates Add Pitcher From Mets
![Pirates Add Pitcher From Mets Pirates Add Pitcher From Mets](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3719,h_2091,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/pittsburgh_pirates/01j429dmb32mvhntmab4.jpg)
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates chose to pick up another left-handed pitcher for their bullpen, acquiring Josh Walker of the New York Mets, according to Robert Murray of FanSided.
Source: The Pirates are acquiring pitcher Josh Walker from the Mets. Walker had recently been designated for assignment.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 30, 2024
Walker pitched the last two seasons with the Mets, with a 6.45 ERA in 22.1 innings in 24 appearances out of the bullpen. He pitched in 10 games this season, with a 5.11 ERA in 12.1 innings of work, with 13 hits, seven earned runs, six walks to 11 strikeouts and a .277 opposing batting average.
He had a better time in Triple-A with the Syracuse Mets this season, with a 2.83 ERA in 25 appearances and 28.2 innings of work, along with 39 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP.
The Mets recently designated Walker for assignment, after they landed right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek from the Seattle Mariners for minor leaguer Rhylan Thomas.
Pittsburgh has looked to add left-handed releivers, as they also made a trade to acquire Colorado Rockies left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks, sending minor league left-handed pitcher Luis Peralta in exchange.
The Pirates only had Aroldis Champman as their other southpaw in the bullpen prior to acquiring Beeks and Walker. They shut down Ryan Borucki, the other left-handed reliever, for carpal tunnel syndrome, on May 1 and transferred him to the 60-day injured list on June 6.
Pittsburgh has made one other trade so far, with right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester going to the Boston Red Sox for minor league infielder Nick Yorke.
The MLB Trade Deadline is July 30, meaning that the Pirates have short time to add any additional players to their roster. They are currently 54-52 and two games out of the last wild card spot, so more additions would not come as surprising.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Connecticut
Troop C Log: The Latest State Police Arrests
![Troop C Log: The Latest State Police Arrests Troop C Log: The Latest State Police Arrests](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/103600/20240730/123118/styles/patch_image/public/sign-troop-c-___30104509826.jpg)
TOLLAND, CT — Here are the latest arrests made by Connecticut State Police out of the Troop C barracks.
Arrest log information reflects charges filed, which are not indications of guilt.
July 22
Find out what’s happening in Tollandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
ELLINGTON, CT — Holden Tait, 18, of Ellington, was charged with driving under the influence and second-degree breach of peace following a report of balloons being thrown at people from a black Volvo on Sprucewood Drive.
MANSFIELD, CT — William Sewell, 28, of Mansfield, was charged with violating a conditional discharge.
Find out what’s happening in Tollandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
July 24
VERNON, CT — Jessica Chaclas, 38, of East Windsor, was charged with the use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance after an incident at Rockville Superior Court.
July 25
TOLLAND, CT — Lauren Mello, 26, of Tolland, was charged with driving under the influence, evading responsibility, drinking while driving, evading responsibility and a lane violation following a crash on Sand Hill Road.
STAFFORD, CT — Addy Moore, 41, of Stafford, was charged via a warrant with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
TOLLAND, CT — Allana Polk, 26, and Shantee Renee Deyo, 43, both of Waterbury, were charged with risk of injury to a child and second-degree reckless endangerment following an incident on Marbella Lane.
July 26
MANSFIELD, CT — Romaine Myers, 43, of Providence, RI, was charged with reckless driving after a stop on Route 44.
July 27
VERNON, CT — Warren Carter, 33, was charged with driving under the influence after a stop on Interstate 83 eastbound near Exit 66.
VERNON, CT — Following an investigation into state food assistance fraud, Grisley Cordero, 32, of Vernon, was charged with first-degree larceny, making a false statement via a warrant.
VERNON, CT — Hopeton Simons, 51, of Enfield, was charged with a lane violation and driving under the influence after a stop on Skinner Road.
July 28
ELLINGTON, CT — Jennifer Stetsky, of Ellington, was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault after a stop on Sandy Beach Road.
STAFFORD, CT — Jason Hansen, 39, of Hartford, was charged via a warrant with registration, license and insurance violations, having an improper marker plate, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer and a stop sign violation in connection with an incident on Lakeview Terrace.
VERNON, CT — Joseph Torre, 39, of Worcester, MA, was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree breach of peace after an incident on a tour bus in Interstate 84.
WILLINGTON, CT — Ellah Mideva, 25, of Willington, was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct in connection with an incident on Cisar Road.
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