A counter-sniper alerted the US Secret Service to a suspicious man using a rangefinder approximately 20 minutes before a gunman opened fire at a Donald Trump rally, according to members of Congress briefed by law enforcement. This new information has raised significant questions about why Trump’s would-be assassin was not stopped sooner and why the former president was allowed to appear on the rally stage. The gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was initially spotted by local police but was lost in the crowd before being seen again by a counter-sniper.
The Initial Sighting and Immediate Concerns
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspected gunman, was reportedly spotted early by local police, who identified him as a skinny young man behaving suspiciously. They notified other police agencies, including the Secret Service, via radio. At the time, Crooks did not appear to have a weapon, which may have contributed to the difficulty in maintaining surveillance on him. Despite being flagged as a person of interest, Crooks managed to blend into the crowd, temporarily eluding law enforcement.
“He was identified as a character of suspicion because he had a rangefinder as well as a backpack,” Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, who was present at the briefings, told Fox News. “And this was over an hour before the shooting actually occurred. So, you would think over the course of that hour, you shouldn’t lose sight of the individual.” The initial sighting and subsequent loss of Crooks raise questions about the effectiveness of communication and coordination among various law enforcement agencies at the event.
The Second Sighting by the Counter-Sniper
Later, around 17:45 local time, Crooks was spotted again by a counter-sniper officer near the Agr International building, which the gunman later scaled to aim at Trump. The officer reportedly took a picture of the gunman using the rangefinder and immediately radioed the command post to report the sighting. This sighting was critical in providing the Secret Service with more concrete information about the potential threat.
By 17:52 – 19 minutes before the shooting – the Secret Service was made aware that Crooks was spotted with a rangefinder and disseminated that information to other officers on site, CBS reported. A rangefinder is an instrument that can be used to help measure the distance to a target, making it particularly alarming in this context. The presence of such a device indicated a level of planning and intent that warranted immediate action.
The Timeline Leading Up to the Shooting
A clearer timeline of the events leading up to the assassination attempt has emerged after closed briefings to lawmakers on Wednesday. According to the briefings, local police initially spotted the gunman acting strangely at Saturday’s rally in Pennsylvania about an hour before the shooting. They lost track of him in the crowd before he was spotted again by the counter-sniper. The timeline reveals a series of critical moments where law enforcement had the opportunity to intervene but were unable to prevent the attack.
It was also revealed during the briefings that the gunman had visited the site of the attack, the Butler County fairgrounds, at least once in the days before the assassination attempt and had previously searched on his phone for symptoms of a depressive disorder, an official familiar with the briefing told CBS. The attacker had also used his phone to search for images of both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. FBI Director Wray told lawmakers on the call that more than 200 interviews had already been conducted and 14,000 images reviewed.
Implications and Future Considerations
The incident raises critical questions about the protocols and preparedness of law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting high-profile individuals. The fact that a gunman was able to evade initial detection and come within minutes of executing an assassination attempt underscores the need for improved communication and coordination among security personnel. Moving forward, it is imperative that lessons are learned from this incident to prevent similar threats in the future.
In conclusion, the events leading up to the shooting at the Donald Trump rally reveal significant lapses in security and coordination among law enforcement agencies. The fact that the gunman was spotted by the Secret Service 20 minutes before the shooting but was not apprehended highlights the challenges faced in protecting high-profile individuals in a dynamic and crowded environment. As more information becomes available, it is crucial that security protocols are re-evaluated and strengthened to ensure the safety of public figures and attendees at large events. The incident of the Trump gunman spotted by the Secret Service 20 minutes before shooting serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threats and the need for constant vigilance.
