New details have emerged about the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealing that the perpetrator, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had scoped out the site while local law enforcement officers were already in position. A detailed timeline and text messages obtained by Fox News Digital provide an account of Crooks' movements and the communications between officers leading up to the shooting.
On July 13, 2024, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Trump. A detailed timeline obtained by Fox News Digital reveals the chilling sequence of events leading up to the shooting and the security measures that were in place at the time.
Trump Assassination Attempt: New Details Emerge on Surveillance and Security
According to the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit (ESU), local law enforcement officers were in their pre-determined positions as early as 10:15 a.m., while local snipers were in place by 10:30 a.m. on the day of the rally.
Emerging details indicate that Crooks, then 20 years old, was present at the rally site at 11 a.m., spending an hour observing the scene while officers and snipers were already in position. He returned to the site at 3:50 p.m., and around 5:10 p.m., officers spotted him for the first time, approximately 50 minutes before Trump took the stage.
Trump Assassination Attempt: New Details Emerge on Surveillance and Security
Upon his return, Crooks flew a drone about 200 yards away from where Trump was scheduled to speak. The FBI later determined that no photos or videos were taken from the drone and that no memory card was found.
At 5:30 p.m., local law enforcement snapped a photo of Crooks and sent it to command, along with a message stating that they believed he was a "kid learning around the building." The officer noted that he had seen Crooks using a range finder towards the stage and requested that Secret Service snipers be notified to look out for him.
Trump Assassination Attempt: New Details Emerge on Surveillance and Security
The follow-up message directed officers to notify command and have a uniformed officer check it out. However, by 6:12 p.m., Crooks had opened fire on the rallygoers before being killed by a counter-sniper.
Trump was grazed by a bullet on his ear, while three rallygoers were also shot, including Corey Comperatore, 50, who was killed protecting his family. David Dutch and James Copenhaver were also injured in the shooting but have since returned home.
Trump Assassination Attempt: New Details Emerge on Surveillance and Security
The investigation has raised questions about the adequacy of security measures at the rally and the lack of action taken to address concerns about Crooks' presence. The timeline and text messages provide a glimpse into the unfolding events and highlight the need for heightened vigilance in securing high-profile political gatherings.
