- Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to kill former President Trump at a campaign rally using a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle and was shot dead by the Secret Service at the scene.
- Psychologists believe that Crooks may have been motivated by a desire for fame, success, or attention, rather than by political beliefs, as he had virtually no online presence and conflicting political affiliations.
- Experts suggest that killers who target political figures are typically driven by a need for attention and infamy, rather than by a desire to enact political change.
- Crooks had an interest in firearms and may have been influenced by violent video games, which can blur the line between reality and fiction and increase aggression.
- The Secret Service Exception Case Study Project reveals that many assassins or attempted assassins are primarily motivated by delusions and a desire for fame, rather than by political ideologies.
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Psychiatry & Mental Health, Psychology, Public Health & Prevention