The Secret Service and local police are now pointing fingers at who must be responsible for securing perimeters during the Pennsylvania rally where former president Donald Trump was almost killed.
A news report revealed that a local police officer confronted President Trump’s gunman on Saturday after attendees reported that this man was carrying a gun and was moving from roof to roof.
The officer climbed the roof and called out the 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who then pointed his rifle at the law enforcement personnel.
Fearing Crooks might take his life, the officer backed down.
Video by Nicholas Pagnotta.
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The suspect then “quickly took a shot toward” Trump. In retaliation, Secret Service snipers fired in his direction, ultimately killing Trump’s killer.
The Secret Service claimed that the attacker “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally” before the agents “neutralized” him.
Crooks’ home was 40 miles from the rally venue. As per TMZ’s report, he had longer brown hair and pinpointed his target “from afar before pulling the trigger.”
The FBI, which is currently conducting its investigation, stated that the violence in Pennsylvania is being handled as “an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump.”
During the late-night news conference, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek remarked how it was “surprising” that the shooter was able to aim and fire several times before the Secret Service neutralized him.
According to a source, members of the Secret Service counter-sniper team and counter-assault team were present during the event. They were responsible for eliminating threats so that on-the-ground agents could protect the person they were securing.
Anthony Gugliemi, spokesman for the Secret Service, defended their agents and argued that they were only responsible for the immediate vicinity of the rally at Butler Farm Show Grounds.
Gugliemi asserted that the local authorities should be responsible for guarding the adjacent areas, which include the AGR International Inc. factory where Crooks opened fire at the former president.
The latest report by NBC News found that the Secret Service identified the rooftop as a security loophole days before the rally.
Meanwhile, Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas claims that the Department of Homeland Security is working with law enforcement to probe the attack. He emphasized that securing presidential candidates and their campaign rallies are some of his department’s “most vital priorities.”
If that is the case, the DHS secretary must answer and be held accountable for several questions regarding the attack.
In addition, President Trump doubles down on the necessity for the Secret Service to provide security to independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Secret Service denied RFK Jr protection thrice.
