Washington, July 15 (Online): Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect in Saturday’s attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, featured in a 2022 ad for BlackRock, the investment giant has revealed.
Crooks was shot and killed by US Secret Service officers after discharging multiple rounds at the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, while he was giving a speech at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. BlackRock disclosed the prior connection with the gunman in a statement on Sunday.
The commercial was filmed at Bethel Park High School, from which Crooks graduated two years ago. The then-teenager appeared in the background alongside several other students and was not compensated in any way, the company said.
“The assassination attempt on former President Trump is abhorrent,” BlackRock stressed. “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’s ear was grazed by a bullet, one person was killed, and two others were critically injured in the crowd of his supporters.
The firm said it will take the ad out of circulation and share all available footage with relevant authorities.
US media have described Crooks as a loner with an inconsistent history of political affiliations. He donated 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 claimed that they tried to alert police about an armed man “bear-crawling” towards his shooting position several minutes before the gun was fired.
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