An attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has sparked significant concerns regarding security failures.
Daily Mail reported that Frank Figliuzzi, an FBI agent for 25 years, believes failures in communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement may be to blame for not preventing the Trump assassination attempt.
On the day of the rally, the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks stationed himself on the roof of a building only 150 yards from the stage. Crowds spotted him and attempted to alert security, but their warnings went unanswered for several minutes. Crooks used a high-powered semi-automatic rifle, potentially an AR-15, to carry out his attack.
Security for the rally likely involved coordination between the Secret Service and local police, with the former handling the enclosed perimeter and the latter covering the broader area. Standard procedures required clear assignment of roles for each post and zone. This division, familiar to both agencies, is fundamental to effective security planning.
However, the local police might have had limited experience with political events, affecting their readiness. News footage also depicted soldiers in camouflage, presumed to be National Guard members, whose responsibilities and contributions to security are similarly under review.
A Secret Service sniper ultimately neutralized Crooks within seconds of his firing. Witnesses report that Crooks' presence on the roof was noticed by some attendees, who struggled to get a timely reaction from security. The shooter may have been misidentified as an authorized sniper, delaying the response.
Former FBI officials have expressed dismay at the evident breakdowns in communication. An effective security plan involves all team members meeting to discuss their roles. These individuals need to recognize each other on sight to avoid fatal delays.
Role-specific checks should be rigorously conducted at each rally stage, ensuring every team member knows their counterpart's identity and responsibilities. Basic measures like double-checks may have been neglected, contributing to the security breach.
The FBI's investigation will reconstruct the event with witness testimonies, CCTV, media recordings, and bystander footage. They will delve into how Crooks accessed the rooftop, security's reaction vector, and the relevance of the crowd's ignored alerts.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Trump was efficiently shielded by reinforced barriers and the swift action of Secret Service agents. Despite the ongoing threat possibility, Trump demonstrated defiance, outwardly addressing the crowd.
Audio recordings captured Trump insisting on retrieving his shoes while being escorted to his vehicle, in stark contravention to standard safety protocols. A former FBI agent noted, "The protection squad has one job: to protect their man." Priority should never be diverted to non-essential matters amid an active threat scenario.
In response to the Butler incident, the Republican National Convention scheduled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will implement unprecedented security measures. This is a direct consequence of recent security oversights.
Frank Figliuzzi, an FBI veteran, suggests communication failures between the Secret Service and local law enforcement may have contributed to the security lapse. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to position himself on a roof 150 yards from the stage, and despite attendees' attempts to alert security, his presence went unaddressed for several minutes. Ultimately, a Secret Service sniper neutralized Crooks. The FBI is investigating the incident to understand the communication breakdowns and to ensure such security oversights are not repeated in the future.
