In a surprising development following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a rally on July 13, Bethel Park High School has refuted claims made by the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, that he was a member of the school's rifle team. The school, in a statement released yesterday, stated that they have "no record" of Crooks attempting to join the team.

According to a former classmate, Jameson Myers, Crooks had tried out for the varsity rifle team during his freshman year but did not make the junior varsity roster. Subsequently, he did not return in the following years to try out for the team. The school confirmed Myers' account, stating that Crooks was never a member of the rifle team, and the coach does not recall ever meeting him.

Responding to specific allegations of bullying, the high school maintained that their records show no indication of Crooks being mistreated while he was a student. Myers, who provided the anecdote about the rifle team, described Crooks as a "nice kid who never talked poorly of anyone" and said he was not picked on.

The investigation into the gunman has yielded little evidence regarding his political motivations, as federal investigators informed members of Congress last week. Examination of his digital devices revealed searches for both former President Trump and President Biden, as well as information about where Trump would be speaking during his rally. Crooks also searched for the location of the Democratic National Convention. On the day of the attack, he further searched for images of the farm where the rally took place and a nearby cooperating gun shop.

Federal investigators have conducted over 200 interviews, including with family, neighbors, and coworkers. The consensus among interviewed family members is that there were no discussions about politics or ideology with Crooks.

Bethel Park High School has emphasized that their records portray Crooks as a quiet, bright young man who excelled academically, attended school regularly, and had no disciplinary incidents. The school stated that he generally got along well with his teachers and classmates.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to uncover any potential underlying motives behind the attempted assassination of the former president. The school's response sheds light on Crooks' academic achievements and challenges initial claims about his involvement in the rifle team, prompting further questions about his intent and state of mind leading up to the incident.