Thomas Matthew Crooks Was Mostly Unknown to Gun Club, But Visited with Father

Thomas Matthew Crooks was a member at a local gun club in Pennsylvania — and even went a day before firing upon Donald Trump — but he didn’t leave a lasting impression on very many people who regularly go there … TMZ has learned.

We’ve called around and connected with a handful of current members at the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club — not far from Crooks’ home — and the answer we got from just about all of them was the same … nobody had ever heard of this guy before Saturday’s shooting.

Bob Wolanin — a longtime Clairton member — tells us the name and face didn’t stand out to him at all … and ditto for another member and even a current worker at the club — who didn’t want their names out there — but who relayed a similar sentiment … namely, Thomas was a ghost as far as they’re concerned.

A separate ex-member of Clairton did tell TMZ that some who frequent Clairton — and who actually recall seeing Thomas there — say he had been seen dropping in with his dad … but it’s unclear how often they went, or if Thomas ever came on his own.

Reports say Thomas did, in fact, hit up Clairton on Friday — almost 24 hours before he tried putting a bullet through Trump’s head — and practiced shooting on his father’s AR-15.

Even if Thomas did go to the range a lot … his presence wasn’t felt — not only did ordinary members not remember much of him … but the club’s top brass say they’re not familiar with him either as a standout range-goer.

Clairton’s president Bill Sellitto tells TMZ, “We didn’t know him” — and his wife Debbie, who also does work for Clairton, echoes that … explaining to us that out of the many members she’s spoken to since — she hasn’t come across one who knew or interacted with TMC.

Debbie says there are over 2,000 members at their club — and so far, not one has come forward to them to suggest there were warning signs. She says he was likely a loner at their facility … the way he apparently was in his regular life, based on eyewitness descriptions.

Obviously, Crooks was on a mission to kill that day — in addition to his rifle … he reportedly brought explosives and other equipment to carry out his task, even though he told his job that he’d be back by Monday.