Members of the Beaver County SWAT team have raised concerns about the lack of communication with the U.S. Secret Service prior to the assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Former President Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, was a scene of terror when would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, injuring the former president and two rallygoers and killing firefighter Corey Compartore. Members of the Beaver County SWAT team, tasked with securing the event, have now come forward to express their dismay at the lack of communication with the Secret Service before the shooting.
Jason Woods, a local sharpshooter, emphasized the absence of any contact with the U.S. Secret Service until after the shooting. "We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service snipers... and that never happened," Woods said. "So I think that was probably a pivotal point where I started thinking things were wrong because that never happened, and we had no communication with the Secret Service."
Beaver County SWAT Team Expresses Concerns About Lack of Communication with Secret Service at Trump Rally
Beaver County SWAT sniper Gregory Nicol recalled noticing a young man skulking around the rally site. He observed the man's suspicious behavior and attempted to follow him, but lost sight of Crooks when Nicol moved to the first level of the AGR building.
Questions have been raised about how U.S. Secret Service agents stationed inside the building were able to adequately oversee the rally through small, low-set windows that may not have opened. Fox News reported that "sources familiar with the investigation said that there was no Secret Service personnel on the roof at the time of the shooting."
Beaver County SWAT Team Expresses Concerns About Lack of Communication with Secret Service at Trump Rally
Michel Vasiladiots-Nicol, a SWAT medic, responded to the roof with other local law enforcement. She recalled finding Crooks "bleeding heavily... and he had absolutely no pulse."
Assistant Beaver County SWAT leader Mike Priolo expressed profound regret over the shooting. "This one is something that we'll always carry with us... I think we all failed that day. People died. If there's anything that we could have done to stop that, we could have. We should have done."
Beaver County SWAT Team Expresses Concerns About Lack of Communication with Secret Service at Trump Rally
In a statement, the U.S. Secret Service acknowledged the need for a thorough investigation. "As it relates to communications on that day, we are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that it never happens again."
Congress and the FBI have launched investigations into the shooting. The findings of these investigations are expected to shed light on the communication lapses and other factors that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Beaver County SWAT Team Expresses Concerns About Lack of Communication with Secret Service at Trump Rally
