A shooting at former President Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday left one person killed and two others injured. The suspected shooter, identified by federal authorities as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by U.S. Secret Service gunmen.

Vincent Taormina, who met Crooks in middle school and knew him through high school, described him as a pretty smart kid, sometimes a bit smug.

Taormina says Crooks had his circle of friends and was never really a loner or super quiet.

He did, however, recall a falling out with Crooks in eighth grade, around 2018, two years into Donald Trump’s presidency. 

“I said something about Trump and, you know, making up all the pros and cons and how I thought he was doing really well compared to how we thought he was,” said Taormina. “And that's when Thomas was like, ‘well, aren't you Hispanic?’ And I was like, ‘yeah.’ And he was like, ‘well, and you like Trump?’ I go, ‘yeah.’ And he goes, ‘well, that's a little stupid, isn't it?’

“He was not one for a certain politician, as far as I know. As far as I know, he hated all politicians. He hated, I wouldn't say the government per se, but he definitely did not like our politicians and our pool of choice when it comes to our politicians.”

Taormina says Crooks was picked on over appearance or being a nerd — comments here and there — but overall, he said in a million years he never thought Crooks would do something like this.

Sources from the school tell Spectrum News 1 Crooks was a polite student who didn’t really have any issues with people. 

In a statement, the school district says it is cooperating fully with the investigation:

"Bethel Park School District can confirm that the alleged shooter in the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump is a graduate of Bethel Park High School. Thomas Matthew Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School with the Class of 2022.

The school district wishes to express its sincere wishes for a speedy and complete recovery for Mr. Trump and those in attendance at the Saturday event who may have been physically harmed or emotionally impacted by these tragic events. We offer special condolences to the family of Mr. Corey Comperatore, who was killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Our school district will cooperate fully with the active law enforcement investigation surrounding this case, and as such, we are limited in what we can publicly disclose.

Moving forward, we will work closely with law enforcement investigators and share information as appropriate regarding school district policies, the active investigation, and law enforcement protocols.

Otherwise, we would direct all media inquiries to those handling the investigation for more information."