The man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump was at the rally a full three hours before he opened fire on the Republican candidate.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was reported missing by his parents in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to a Fox News report. Hours later, he would miss killing Trump by inches , killing one of his supporters and injuring two others in the process during a rally in Butler.
Crooks, seen three hours before the rally , had sparked suspicion among the event security because he was carrying a rangefinder. This was seen as he passed through magnetometers, CNN reported.
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Rangefinders are similar to a small pair of binoculars and are often used by hunters. This, according to reports, aroused some suspicion from security personnel until he left the secure area.
An official also told CNN Crooks was seen on top of the American Glass Research building he would shoot from by one of the counter-sniper teams . The official said: "They were looking at him while he was looking at them."
Also, a new video obtained by WTAE showed Crooks captured in chilling footage lurking near the stage Trump spoke from. It comes amid continued questions over the security during the event.
Questions over the event security remain, given that Crooks, 20, was just 135 metres away from Trump when he opened fire. There was additional security placed on Trump leading up to the event due to a threat on Trump’s life from Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would be setting up a task force to investigate security failures that occurred during the assassination attempt.. Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Congressman James Comer, has also issued a subpoena to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, compelling her to appear before the committee on Monday.
“The assassination attempt of the former President and current Republican nominee for president represents a total failure of the agency’s core mission and demands Congressional oversight,” Comer said in a letter to addressed to Cheatle. Cheatle said previously that the agency will cooperate with congressional committees and also a reviewed ordered by President Joe Biden .
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Meanwhile, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told The Washington Post that the Secret Service had been told that local police “did not have the manpower to assist with securing” a key building later used by Crooks to position himself for his shots fired towards Trump . The newspaper said a Secret Service official confirmed this, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
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