A comprehensive investigation into the July 13 shooting at a rally for former President Donald Trump has concluded it could have been prevented.
A House Task Force criticized security planning, noting egregious lapses by the Secret Service and partner law enforcement agencies, Fox News reported.
On that day, in Butler, Pennsylvania, a tragic sequence unfolded when Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old assailant, opened fire from a rooftop during the rally. This act of violence resulted tragically in one fatality and several injuries, including a minor injury to Trump himself.
According to the House Task Force, the lapses in protective measures reflected poor coordination. Their interim report, released in early October, pointed directly at botched communication efforts among the agencies tasked with maintaining safety at such high-profile events.
The report's findings revealed that immediate action could have prevented the distressing outcome. The Task Force stated, "The tragic and shocking events of July 13 were preventable and should not have happened, unveiling a clear deficiency before the rally commenced."
Here, as recounted by a Butler Township Police witness, the onset of the crisis was marked by urgency and disbelief: There’s an AR! An AR! An AR! A guy with an AR!”
After spotting Crooks, discrepancies emerged regarding who ultimately stopped him. "He fired a single shot from a standing position at Crooks, who was in a prone position on the roof," explained a witness from the Butler County ESU, thus highlighting the chaotic responses from involved agencies.
Moreover, these inconsistencies underscore not just the tactical response errors but also the contrasting reports between local law enforcement and the USSS about who shot Crooks. Ultimately, such contradictory accounts lead to confusion and a lack of clear accountability.
In addition, the interim report also pinpoints a crucial window between 5:38 p.m. and 5:51 p.m. on July 13 when officers relayed information about Crooks, which led to his identification but failed to thwart his actions.
The shooting raised broader security concerns, which were amplified by a subsequent assassination attempt on Trump in West Palm Beach on September 15. Consequently, public hearings led by Rep. Mike Kelly began on September 26, ensuring rigorous scrutiny of protective protocols.
During these hearings, officials summarized the findings from Phase One of the investigation, revealing that preliminary data implicated critical shortcomings by the Secret Service and its allies in preempting such attacks.
Furthermore, in light of the ongoing investigation, the Task Force promised endurance in their probe, stating, "We will continue our efforts to interview officials and review new details as they emerge," solidifying their commitment to refining public figure protection.
The upcoming final report, expected on December 13, will likely detail further the depth of the lapses and hopefully initiate robust measures preventing a recurrence. The House Task Force has painted a distressing picture of what occurred on July 13, pointing fingers at identifiable mishaps that allowed a preventable tragedy to unfold. The community, law enforcement, and political figures await fixed resolutions to ensure the safety of public gatherings and the figures they convene to hear.
