According to the Guardian, a Pennsylvania officer spotted the would-be assassin 90 minutes before the shooting, but due to a communication failure, officials previously believed he was detected 30 minutes later.
Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt on 13 July in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the assailant, Thomas Matthews Crooks, was killed by government snipers. New details about the security failures and the timeline of the incident have emerged from text messages and testimony.
New information from text messages between local security units, published by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and the New York Times, sheds light on the security lapses. It appears that local law enforcement spotted Crooks 30 minutes earlier than initially reported. A countersniper observed Crooks loitering near the site 90 minutes before the shooting.
According to these messages, Crooks was seen with a rifle at 4:26 p.m. near a warehouse outside the fenced area. Photos of Crooks were circulated in a group chat at 5:38 p.m., recommending that the Secret Service be informed. By 6:00 p.m., Crooks had moved to the back of the warehouse complex, initiating the shooting from a building close to the stage at 6:11 p.m.
The attack took many by surprise, as Crooks had surveilled the rally site on 8 July, days before the incident. Notably, the Secret Service had excluded the warehouse complex from its security perimeter, a critical oversight.
Jason Woods, the lead sharpshooter on the Beaver County SWAT team, noted a lack of direct communication with the Secret Service. "We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service members whenever they arrived and that never happened," said Woods. Beaver County faced challenges in finding enough volunteers to cover security shifts, further complicating the situation.
Additionally, Crooks managed to use a drone two hours before the attack to survey the area. This suggests significant planning and preparedness on the assailant's part.
In the aftermath, authorities discovered a drone and two explosive devices in Crooks' car. His online search history included queries about the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy and various public figures, including Trump, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and President Joe Biden. Crooks also researched "major depressive disorder," indicating a potential psychological component to his actions.
In the wake of the incident, Trump initially called for unity on Truth Social, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in trying times. Trump's campaign at the Republican National Convention highlighted a message of positivity, though he later resumed his criticisms against Democrats.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi affirmed their commitment to understanding the events to prevent future incidents. "The Secret Service is committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that never happens again," said Guglielmi.
FBI Director Christopher Wray commented on Crooks' interests in public figures, confirming that his motives might extend beyond targeting Trump. "It does appear he was interested in public figures more broadly," Wray noted.
Trump referenced the incident in a speech in Minnesota, indicating it might have altered his demeanor. "I want to be nice. They all say, ‘I think he’s changed. I think he’s changed since two weeks ago. Something affected him.’ No, I haven’t changed. Maybe I’ve gotten worse, actually. Because I get angry at the incompetence that I witness every single day," said Trump.
In the aftermath, Trump's calls for unity and his subsequent frustration highlight the ongoing challenges and the necessity for comprehensive security evaluations. Authorities continue to investigate and understand the full scope of the attack to prevent future incidents.
