New Bodycam Footage Sheds Light on Police Response to Trump Rally Shooting
An Incident That Shocked the Nation
The nation was gripped by shock and disbelief following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump at a rally in July. Now, newly released body camera footage is providing a clearer picture of the scene. The footage, which was released by the Butler Township Police Department, shows crucial moments before and after the assassination attempt, revealing a chaotic scene marked by frustration, confusion, and miscommunication.
During the incident, which occurred at an open-air Trump rally on July 13, a gunman fired eight shots at the former president from a rooftop outside the rally’s security perimeter. Trump was grazed by a bullet; one person was killed and two others were badly injured.
Revelations from the Footage
The publicly available videos show disturbing scenes unfolding in the wake of the shooting. An angry local officer can be heard telling colleagues he had previously urged the US Secret Service to secure the location the gunman later used for the attack, days before the rally. “I told them they need to post guys over there,” he said in a clip shown to media outlets. “I talked to the Secret Service guys, they were like, ‘Yeah, no problem, we’re going to post guys over here.’”
In another chilling scene presented in the bodycam footage, an officer is seen being hoisted onto the rooftop where he spots the shooter. As soon as the officer realizes the gunman is armed, he quickly recedes and goes to retrieve his rifle. Just 40 seconds after the officer first sees the gunman, the sound of a shot being fired at Trump is audible.
Another major point of concern that emerges from the footage is the absence of police presence on the roof from which the gunman fired. One officer seems confused and frustrated, asking why no police officers were stationed on the roof, despite assurances from the Secret Service.
Thomas Matthew Crooks: The Would-be Assassin
The shooter was 20-year old Thomas Matthew Crooks. He fired from a building located in what police describe as a “secondary ring”, an area reportedly patrolled by local and state officers rather than the Secret Service. Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper team.
Aftermath
Now that the bodycam footage has been released, both the Secret Service and the FBI have launched reviews of their protective policies and procedures. In light of the revelations in the footage, it is clear that there were significant lapses in security protocol. The shootings have already spurred a bipartisan House panel featuring 13 lawmakers to also begin an investigation.
The Secret Service has since issued a public statement acknowledging their shortcomings during the tragic event. In it, they express gratitude to their local law enforcement partners who acted with courage during the incident, whilst acknowledging that this attempted assassination represented a failure in their protective services.
A Lesson in Security
The incident has underscored the importance of constant vigilance and effective communication among security agencies while protecting high-profile personalities. It also highlights the potential weaknesses in existing security measures, spurring agencies to review and update their protection protocols to ensure such a tragedy is prevented in the future.
