According to Fox News, law enforcement officials had identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as a potential threat 90 minutes before he fired upon attendees at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
Despite multiple warnings, Crooks managed to position himself on a building and open fire, causing one death and several injuries.
Text messages from law enforcement reveal that Thomas Matthew Crooks was marked as suspicious well ahead of the shooting incident. Officers from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) identified Crooks using a range finder but did not confront him directly.
In a group chat of Beaver ESU officers, the first warning came at 4:36 p.m., when an officer noted that someone had parked near their vehicle. "Someone followed our lead and snuck in," an officer warned.
Officers did not approach Crooks but continued to observe his movements. At 5:10 p.m., they noted he had moved to another location near the American Glass International (AGR) building. An officer documented this by taking a picture of Crooks leaning against the building.
Crooks was described as having greasy shoulder-length hair and wearing a gray t-shirt. He was seen holding a range finder and looking towards the stage where Trump was scheduled to speak.
Despite repeated observations, officers eventually lost sight of Crooks. A chain of text messages shows increasing concern among the officers about Crooks’ suspicious activity. They suggested alerting the command and requested a uniformed officer to check it out.
At 6:11 p.m., Crooks began his assault from atop the AGR building. He opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, who was protecting his family from the gunshots.
Former President Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet on his ear. Three rally-goers were injured: David Dutch and James Copenhaver sustained wounds but survived.
During the attack, it was a counter-sniper who finally neutralized Crooks, preventing further bloodshed. The sniper managed to take Crooks down shortly after he initiated gunfire.
Victims of the shooting received prompt medical attention. James Copenhaver was discharged from the hospital on Friday, while David Dutch was released on Wednesday, July 24.
The tragic death of Corey Comperatore and the injuries sustained by others highlight the urgent need for reevaluations in security protocols. Authorities are urged to learn and adapt to prevent future incidents of this nature.
Text message records indicate that alerts about Crooks were issued at several points leading up to the shooting. Officers were aware of the potential threat Crooks posed but did not intervene directly prior to the attack. Questions are mounting regarding the protocols and responses of the law enforcement officers present. Concerns surround why Crooks was not intercepted before he could position himself on the building and fire into the crowd.
