Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., has released preliminary findings on the assassination attempt of former President Trump.
According to Fox News, the findings shed light on security lapses and the timeline leading up to the shooting incident at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report, spanning 13 pages, outlines how alleged gunman Thomas Mathew Crooks, 20, managed to evade security, ultimately leading to the death of one spectator and injuries to several others, including Trump.
On July 13, 2024, at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks opened fire, resulting in chaos and panic. Trump, who suffered injuries to his ear, was quickly evacuated from the scene. The incident highlighted significant gaps in security coordination and communication.
The report revealed that the Secret Service missed a briefing with local SWAT and sniper teams, a critical lapse for such a high-profile event. Local law enforcement experienced siloed communications and insufficient radio contact with the Secret Service. They had informed command about Crooks before the shooting, but delays and miscommunications still occurred.
The timeline of events on July 13 provides a detailed account of the day's occurrences: At 9 a.m., Butler County Emergency Services held a briefing for local SWAT and sniper units, outlining the security perimeter and staging locations. The absence of the Secret Service at this briefing raised questions about their preparedness.
At 9:27 a.m., Crooks entered a Home Depot in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and purchased a 5.5 FT Aluminum Dual Platform ladder shortly after. He was seen leaving the store at 9:42 a.m., although the make and model of his vehicle could not be identified from the footage.
By 10:30 a.m., two local law enforcement snipers were positioned inside the AGR building. Crooks was first observed by a sniper at 5:10 p.m., who subsequently took pictures of Crooks and his belongings.
AGR sniper 1 observed Crooks using a phone and rangefinder at 5:32 p.m. and immediately alerted the "Sniper Group" about his presence. By 5:40 p.m., the sniper was instructed to call command and offered a detailed description of Crooks and his suspicious activities.
Photos of Crooks were sent to Butler County Emergency Services Command at 5:49 p.m., and by 5:55 p.m., the command confirmed receipt of the photos. The direction in which Crooks was moving was initially unclear, but by 6:05 p.m., it was reported that he was heading northeast with a backpack.
Between 6:06 p.m. and 6:12 p.m., AGR sniper 1 moved to the ground floor to meet local law enforcement and notify them of Crooks' presence. Around 6:11 p.m., Crooks began firing, prompting the Secret Service to return fire and kill him.
By 6:23 p.m., Beaver County SWAT confirmed that Crooks was dead on the roof. Local law enforcement and Secret Service agents then moved in to secure the area and pat down Crooks, finding a transmitter, phone, and rangefinder in his pockets.
At 7:45 p.m., local law enforcement sent pictures of Crooks and his items to the ATF for facial recognition, as requested by the Allegheny Bomb Squad. The ATF is reportedly using these images to aid in their ongoing investigation.
The preliminary findings released by Sen. Ron Johnson highlight significant security lapses and miscommunications that allowed Thomas Mathew Crooks to carry out an attempted assassination on former President Trump. The detailed timeline and observations by local law enforcement and snipers underline the importance of coordinated efforts and clear communication in ensuring the safety of high-profile events. As investigations continue, the need for comprehensive security protocols and inter-agency collaboration becomes ever more evident.
