The shooter appeared in a commercial for the investment behemoth
BlackRock, the investment giant, has revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect in Saturday’s attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, was featured in a 2022 advertisement for the company.
Crooks was shot and killed by US Secret Service officers after firing multiple rounds at the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, while he was delivering a speech at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. BlackRock issued a statement on Sunday disclosing the prior connection with the gunman.
The commercial was filmed at Bethel Park High School, Crooks’ alma mater from which he graduated two years ago. The then-teenager appeared in the background alongside several other students and did not receive any compensation for his participation, the company explained.
“The assassination attempt on former President Trump is abhorrent,” BlackRock emphasized. “We’re thankful former President Trump wasn’t seriously injured, and thinking about all the innocent bystanders and victims of this awful act, especially the person who was killed.”
Trump sustained a graze to the ear from a bullet, one person was killed, and two others sustained critical injuries in the crowd of his supporters.
The firm stated that it would remove the ad from circulation and provide all available footage to relevant authorities.
US media outlets have characterized Crooks as a solitary individual with a history of inconsistent political affiliations. He made a donation to a liberal fundraising organization, but also registered as a Republican voter.
He opened fire at the Trump rally from the roof of a nearby industrial building. Witnesses have reported that they attempted to alert police about an armed man “bear-crawling” towards his shooting position several minutes before the gunshots were fired.