A police officer assigned to the Pennsylvania rally where former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated is heard in body camera footage saying that he had warned the Secret Service days before the event to secure the roof from where the gunman opened fire.
As reported by Daily Mail, the footage reveals confusion among the officers about whether the roof was actually covered, with one officer assuming it was.
Crooks managed to fire a shot that struck Trump in the ear and killed one bystander before being killed by law enforcement within seconds.
Amidst the chaos, Crooks fatally shot a bystander, Corey Comparatore, and injured two others. The event was marred further by revelations that perhaps the tragedy could have been mitigated with better security measures.
Recent body camera footage from the Butler Township Police Department captured an officer voicing his earlier concerns directly to the Secret Service regarding the lack of rooftop security at the rally venue.
The gunman's vantage point and weapon choice underscored significant security lapses discussed widely in the aftermath. Police officers at the scene expressed confusion and frustration over the unguarded roof.
An officer explained how he had advised the Secret Service days before the rally to station guards on rooftop positions to oversee the venue, but this suggestion was not acted upon.
"I f–king told them they need to post a guy f–king over here," said one visibly agitated officer on the body camera footage. Confusion about who was responsible for the rooftop added to the critical situation moments after Crooks opened fire.
Amidst the turmoil, another officer admitted, "I wasn’t even concerned about it because I thought someone was on the roof … how in the hell can you lose a guy walking back here if someone is on the roof?” This illustrates assumptions gone wrong within the security setup at the rally.
The significance of securing high points such as rooftops during such high-profile events was painfully evident as the officer realized there was no oversight from a higher angle. The officer's literal face-off with the assailant was intense. On reaching the rooftop, he found himself staring down the barrel of Crooks' weapon.
In the days following the attack, the U.S. Secret Service faced considerable scrutiny. Analysts and the public alike questioned the decision-making that left critical areas unwatched.
Former President Trump was quickly moved off-stage by U.S. Secret Service agents, a procedure that might have been different had their preparations included the secured vantage points strongly suggested by local police.
This incident, likely to influence future security protocols, demonstrates the necessity of adhering to all advised precautions, especially in potential sniper scenarios. Its implications are being discussed regarding personal safety for public figures and the coordination between law enforcement bodies.
