A sniper from one of the local law enforcement agencies providing assistance at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 14 saw Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter who was killed at the scene, and photographed the would-be assassin immediately prior to his attack, a Wednesday report claims.
The Pennsylvania publication Beaver Countian first reported on Monday it was a Beaver County police officer who warned his superiors of a man with a rangefinder, which is used to calculate distance when using a weapon, citing multiple local law enforcement sources who told the outlet “extremely poor planning” and a lack of manpower allowed the attempt on Trump’s life.
CBS News then reported on Wednesday that the local law enforcement member who spotted Crooks was one of three snipers on a tactical local team who were assigned to the building the would-be assassin accessed to gain a vantage point of the stage.
Crooks ultimately shot Trump, piercing his right ear, and additionally killed rally attendee Corey Comperatore. Two others were additionally injured.
While the Secret Service initially claimed the building Crooks used was outside of its jurisdiction and the sole responsibility of local law enforcement, Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheatle later cited the “safety” concern posted by the slope of its roof.
The outlet reported that Crooks appeared and reappeared multiple times, repeatedly looking toward the building, and lingered long enough for one of the snipers to snap a photograph before the member of local law enforcement told the outlet he “observed Crooks looking through a rangefinder,” and “immediately radioed the command post.”
That command post was established to streamline communication between the local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Secret Service, said the sniper, who remained anonymous in the report.
One local police officer reportedly attempted to reach Crooks before he started shooting, but the would-be assassin pointed his weapon toward the officer, prompting him to retreat. Crooks then immediately began firing at Trump.
Conservatives have questioned the Secret Service actions that preceded the assassination attempt, with The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis arguing on Tuesday the agency “created the conditions” for Crooks to launch his deadly attack.
Davis additionally questioned whether Crooks had contact with anyone in the days prior to his assassination attempt, including whether any individual may have provided a “nudge” to “urge him to go to the Trump rally in Butler.”
Authorities still have not released a motive for Crooks’ shootings, but The Pennsylvania Daily Star reported that neighbors described the would-be assassin’s family as detached and quiet.
High school yearbook photos obtained by The Star additionally portray a stark contrast between the shooter and his sister, Katie Crooks, who was a photographer for the Bethel Park High School student newspaper and once named Student of the Month.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to pappert.tom@proton.me.
