Financial firm BlackRock has pulled a 2022 ad that featured Thomas Matthew Crooks, who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
The 30-second BlackRock ad focused on Brian DeLallo, a teacher at Bethel Park High School in the same-named Pennsylvania town, and how the company’s pension plan helped him.
Footage of the teacher’s classroom depicted Crooks sitting at a table with another student and speaking with Mr. DeLallo during an honors economics class, according to the New York Post.
“In 2022, we ran an ad featuring a teacher from Bethel Park High School, in which several unpaid students briefly appeared in the background, including Thomas Matthew Crooks,” BlackRock told CBS News.
The company condemned the shooting.
“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,” BlackRock added.
In addition to removing the ad from circulation, BlackRock said it plans to provide all video footage from the making of the ad to authorities.
Crooks would go on to graduate the same year the ad first aired.
“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,” the Bethel Park School District said in a statement.
Crooks opened fire amid a speech by Mr. Trump, who was left bleeding from his ear following the gunfire.
Crooks, who was posted on a roof less than 164 yards from the former president, according to The Associated Press, was himself shot and killed shortly thereafter by a Secret Service sniper as other personnel rushed Mr. Trump to safety.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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