Trump rally gunman appeared in ad for money manager BlackRock, company says

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Trump, appeared in a 2022 ad for asset manager BlackRock, the company confirmed to The Hill on Monday.

The BlackRock ad was filmed at Bethel Park High School in Pennsylvania, during which Crooks and other unpaid students appeared briefly alongside a real teacher, the firm said in an emailed statement.

The company has removed the video from circulation, while making all the video footage available to authorities.

The ad was initially part of the campaign “About BlackRock” that focused on its management of retirement plans for U.S. public school teachers.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, and former classmates told reporters he was bullied relentlessly and was often alone.

Authorities say he opened fire at a Trump rally at a farm show in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, wounding the former president and killing one spectator. Two other attendees were critically injured, the Secret Service said.

Crooks was fatally shot by the Secret Service on a nearby roof.

Investigators on Sunday said they were still trying to determine a motive but found bomb-making materials inside his vehicle and home.

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, condemned the violence in its comments about the ad.

“The assassination attempt on former President Trump is abhorrent. 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,” the company stated.

“As our leadership team communicated to colleagues Saturday night, BlackRock strongly condemns political violence of any kind and will do our part to promote civility and unity in the country,” it added.