A former Secret Service agent has shed light on the critical seconds lost during an assassination attempt at a Trump rally.
According to Business Insider, former agents discussed the factors contributing to the delay in the counter-sniper's response during the attack.
On Saturday night in Butler, Pennsylvania, a would-be assassin opened fire at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired at least three rounds from a rooftop approximately 150 yards from the stage.
The shooter managed to kill one rally-goer and critically injure two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service counter-sniper. A bullet also grazed Trump's right ear, bloodying his face. Bill Pickle, a former special agent, commented on the shooter's precision, noting that such accuracy from 150 yards away indicates significant training.
"The real question may be, if there were more anti-sniper eyes on that building, could this have all been avoided," Pickle said, reflecting on the incident. Investigators are now focusing on how Crooks managed to reach the rooftop unnoticed. Pickle raised concerns about the security measures in place, questioning why the roof wasn't secured and whether agents were checking IDs in the area.
Pickle described how Crooks low-crawled across the rooftop, pushing his weapon ahead of him, similar to military tactics. Despite the quick reaction from the counter-sniper team, the incident has sparked questions about the potential for a faster response.
Anthony Cangelosi, another former special agent, explained the difficult decisions faced by counter-snipers upon spotting a potential threat. He emphasized the complexity of making split-second decisions to shoot or not, considering the possibility of misidentifying the threat.
"What if you find out, 'Oh, I just killed a 20-year-old kid who loves the protectee, and he couldn't get in the venue, and he just wanted to get up on that roof?' No one wants to be in that position," Cangelosi said.
The Secret Service's staffing decisions come under scrutiny as experts point out the importance of having adequate resources. Advance teams typically conduct thorough surveys to assess the site and recommend necessary measures. However, resource constraints can limit the number of counter-snipers deployed.
Pickle highlighted that weather conditions and the focus on potential threats in the surrounding area, such as a nearby tree line, might have contributed to the delay in spotting Crooks. The counter-sniper team may have been exhausted from monitoring the area in extreme heat for extended periods.
"The CS guys would probably say we were up there for four hours in 100-degree heat, and if we had another team up here or drone support this wouldn't have happened," Pickle said.
The Secret Service's response to the incident has been praised for swiftly moving Trump offstage and securing the area, though questions remain about why Crooks wasn't identified sooner. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of counter-sniper numbers, with experts predicting intense scrutiny from the FBI, Congress, and the public.
The assassination attempt at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has raised critical questions about the Secret Service's counter-sniper operations. Factors such as extreme heat, resource allocation, and tactical decisions contributed to the delay in neutralizing the threat. As investigations continue, the incident will serve as a significant case study for future security protocols and training.
