An assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has exposed significant security lapses and led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
According to Daily Mail, text messages from countersnipers reveal they were aware of the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 90 minutes before the shooting but failed to act decisively.
Crooks, 20, was first noticed by a countersniper sitting on a picnic table at 4:26 PM, more than an hour and a half before he opened fire.
The sniper reported Crooks to his team, who acknowledged the sighting with a thumbs-up emoji and a "Roger that." Crooks was later seen using a range finder to look towards the stage where Trump would soon appear.
He was photographed multiple times by a countersniper, and these images were shared in the group's chat. Witnesses also saw Crooks crawling onto the roof of the American Glass Research building. Despite these warnings, Crooks was not apprehended or questioned by authorities.
In another disturbing detail, Crooks was seen flying a drone near the rally site two hours before the shooting. He ultimately fired eight shots from an AR-style rifle, injuring Trump and killing retired volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore. The FBI is now investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism.
The FBI Director revealed that Crooks had searched online about the distance from which Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F. Kennedy. Crooks' father had also contacted the police when his son did not return from a gun range. These details have raised questions about missed opportunities to prevent the attack.
The Secret Service was warned multiple times about a suspicious person before Trump took the stage. The FBI Director testified that Crooks had explosives in his car and flew a drone near the rally site. Crooks' preparation included extensive online research on sniper attacks, indicating a high level of premeditation.
There were significant security failures, including no agents stationed on the roof from where Crooks shot. This lapse has led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who acknowledged the shortcomings in an interview.
"The buck stops with me," said Cheatle. "It was unacceptable, and it's something that shouldn't happen again."
Trump praised a "brave" female Secret Service agent who "shielded" him, saying she "wanted to take a bullet" under fire. This acknowledgment has brought some solace amidst the tragic and chaotic events of the day.
The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has unveiled a series of critical security lapses and communication failures within the Secret Service. Countersnipers were aware of the suspect well before the shooting yet failed to act decisively. The FBI's ongoing investigation is treating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism, with troubling details about Crooks' preparations coming to light.
The resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for improved security protocols. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding how such an attack was possible and preventing future occurrences.
