On July 13, a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was disrupted by gunshots fired from a rooftop.
As reported by Fox News, the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner noted that besides would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks, there were at least two other suspicious individuals at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Crooks, 20, was first observed as suspicious around 5:10 p.m. by authorities. Despite ongoing surveillance, he later used a rangefinder while looking at his phone, raising further suspicion.
A photo of Crooks was taken and shared in a "Sniper Group" chat, heightening alert levels. The Secret Service noticed him on a roof roughly 150 yards from where Trump was set to speak.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris confirmed that Crooks never breached the rally's secure perimeter. “He never made it through the secure perimeter into the venue space itself,” Paris stated.
However, the officer assigned to monitor the rooftop, where Crooks had positioned himself, temporarily left due to the extreme heat. This lapse in supervision allowed Crooks to fire shots just before Trump was to appear.
Authorities dealt with numerous issues that day, including over 100 attendees needing medical attention due to the heat. There was also the case of a missing six-year-old, which strained resources and attention.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino questioned if Crooks was the only suspicious person identified during the event. “Was [Crooks] the only one determined to be suspicious that day?” he asked. Commissioner Paris responded, “No, he was not.” This acknowledgment pointed to additional individuals being noted but not specified during the rally.
Paris offered additional context, describing Crooks as someone who was identified during his movements outside the venue but did not enter the secured area. “He was walking around and not moving into the venue,” Paris noted.
The rangefinder use coupled with Crooks' suspicious behaviors led to an elevated state of alertness among law enforcement. “There was a text thread that was going... They took a photo of him at some point when he utilized the rangefinder. The suspicion was heightened,” explained Paris.
Despite the vigilance, Crooks fired shots less than 20 minutes after being seen on the roof. The specifics of his motives and how he managed to evade closer scrutiny are still under investigation.
The unfortunate lapse of a law enforcement officer leaving his post due to the heat might have provided Crooks the undetected opportunity to act. Paris emphasized that, at the time of these events unfolding, there was no confirmed information indicating Crooks was armed.
Crooks was flagged as a person of interest and ultimately fired shots from a rooftop. Security measures and rapid response likely prevented further escalation. Unrelated issues like medical emergencies due to heat and a missing child added complexity to the situation. Further details about other suspicious individuals and their potential connections to Crooks' actions remain undisclosed, pending investigation. The authorities' quick actions, despite the failures in monitoring, underscore the challenges of ensuring security at large public events.
