A nation is in shock: A 20-year-old tried to shoot Donald Trump during a campaign appearance. The ex-president apparently escaped death by inches. There is talk of a failure of the security forces – what we know so far about what happened.
Puff pastry! Puff pastry! Puff pastry! Three hissing sounds and then chaos. Fire was opened on the presidential candidate during a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
According to his own statements, Trump was hit in the right ear and the shooter was “neutralized” by the Secret Service after a few seconds. But why was Thomas Matthew Crooks (20), identified by the FBI, able to fire a shot at all?
Glaring security gaps?
The Trump rally took place in the small town of Butler. The location is rural and there are only a few houses in the area, according to research by “Krone”.
Butler police said there had been multiple reports of “suspicious activity” prior to the shooting. An eyewitness told the BBC he saw the gunman climb onto the roof of a low-rise building outside the security perimeter with a rifle. He called nearby police officers to warn them of the potential danger.
Officers appeared confused and did not immediately respond to the warning, he said. “Then five shots were fired,” the witness said, describing the historic moment. “The Secret Service blew his head off. They climbed up on the roof, had their guns trained on him, made sure he was dead, he was dead, and that was it, it was over.”
Hours after the attempted assassination, the situation is still confusing. It will likely be weeks before all the details are clear. Here is a summary of what we know for sure.
What is known about the shooter?
American media unanimously reported that the FBI had identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He was a registered member of Trump’s Republican Party. What is striking, however, is that his only political donation of fifteen dollars went to a Democratic group. The background to the crime is unclear, the investigation is ongoing.
According to officials, Crooks fired two rounds in Trump’s direction. First three, then five shots. These descriptions match videos of the incident. According to initial findings, the shooter took up position on a rooftop about 450 feet from the stage and opened fire.
The Secret Service said the attacker fired several shots from an “elevated position” outside the assembly area. It then took a few seconds for the suspected assassin to be captured and “neutralized” by snipers.
A video emerges showing the shooter on the roof near the stage:
Two police officers told The New York Times that authorities found an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle next to the shooter’s body.
How was the event secured?
The central question is how the suspected assassin was able to appear unnoticed on the roof of a building, while a former and possibly future American president was speaking just a few meters away.
An FBI official told reporters it was surprising the suspect was able to fire multiple shots. Media reports said the shooter was outside the so-called security perimeter.
Former Secret Service officer Paul Eckloff told Reuters that Secret Service agents routinely monitored all rooftops for the meeting. “This individual was either hiding until he became a threat, or he wasn’t a threat until he showed his weapons.”
Scenes of the attempted murder:
Campaign events are incredibly difficult to secure. Trump’s appearances often take place – as in the current case – outdoors. In vast parks, at exhibition centers or on golf courses. These events are also attended by thousands of people.
How is Donald Trump doing?
The Republican had just begun his speech when the shots were fired. The 78-year-old grabbed his right ear with his right hand, lowered his hand to look at it and fell to his knees behind the podium. Secret Service agents immediately surrounded him.
A New York Times photographer apparently captured the historic moment when a projectile whizzed past Trump’s ear:
Trump used the moment to galvanize his audience. He turned to the crowd, blood on his face, raised his fist and shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” Secret Service agents then escorted him to a black SUV. The 78-year-old former president was treated at a medical facility on the scene.
On his online platform Truth Social, Trump said a bullet “penetrated the upper portion of my right ear.” It was “unbelievable that such an act could happen in our country.” Trump later exited his plane unaided, as seen in a video released by his press team. The injured ear was not visible. Trump also thanked “security forces and first responders for their swift actions during this horrific act.”
In addition to the suspected shooter, one bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured, authorities said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
