New details and exclusive video reveal the chilling timeline of the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, exposing critical security failures that allowed the gunman to infiltrate the rally.
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024, has sparked a thorough investigation into the security vulnerabilities that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old gunman, to carry out his sinister plan.
Inside the Trump Assassination Attempt: Timeline and Security Lapses
According to a retired Secret Service agent and security expert, Bill Gage, Crooks had likely conducted extensive surveillance of the Butler Farm rally site before the attack, just like other notorious assassins before him."It’s clear now the gunman did an advance of the target before the event," Gage said, drawing parallels to Arthur Bremer, Lee Harvey Oswald, and John Hinckley, who targeted Presidents Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, respectively.
Emerging evidence suggests that Crooks was meticulous in his preparation. He purchased ammunition hours before the rally and procured a ladder from Home Depot. "He knew that there were elevated positions there... and that he would need a ladder to access," Gage explained. Although Crooks did not use the ladder, his purchase indicates advanced planning.
Inside the Trump Assassination Attempt: Timeline and Security Lapses
Crooks, carrying a range-finder and behaving suspiciously, appeared near the venue before Trump took the stage. Former DEA special agent and CEO of Global Security Group, David Katz, believes the range-finder is an indication that Crooks "not only practiced but was aware of how to sight-in his rifle at that distance and probable declination of angle."
despite the presence of a security detail, the failure to secure the rooftop with a clear line of sight to the former president remains a glaring security lapse. "It's unbelievable to me," said Sean Parnell, an Army veteran and former congressional candidate who witnessed the gunfire. "My 11-year-old was like, ‘Why is somebody able to come so close to that building?’"
Inside the Trump Assassination Attempt: Timeline and Security Lapses
Secret Service counter-snipers neutralized Crooks at the scene, but images depict him lying dead on a rooftop less than 150 yards from where Trump was speaking. A source revealed that an initial report of Crooks carrying a range-finder 30 minutes before the shooting was "disregarded."
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) refuted the claim, stating that they had provided dozens of troopers to assist with rally security. However, they emphasized that they were not responsible for securing the building or the surrounding property.
Inside the Trump Assassination Attempt: Timeline and Security Lapses
The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has launched an investigation into the Secret Service's handling of security for the event. Authorities have confirmed that Crooks had no criminal history or documented mental illnesses, and the murder weapon was purchased legally by his father in 2013.
A federal investigation into his motives and potential accomplices is ongoing, with the FBI analyzing his laptop, cellphone, and rifle while interviewing witnesses. Anyone with information is urged to provide tips through the FBI's online portal or hotline.
Inside the Trump Assassination Attempt: Timeline and Security Lapses
The failed assassination attempt has raised questions about the Secret Service's ability to protect high-profile individuals. A former agent warned that the agency is "stretched thin" and lacks manpower due to new responsibilities and increased threats.
As the investigation continues, the security failures and lessons learned will be meticulously examined to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Inside the Trump Assassination Attempt: Timeline and Security Lapses
