Former President Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, used a nearby warehouse roof as a vantage point to fire shots at the former president from approximately 500 feet away. During testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee on July 23, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris revealed new details about the security failures that led to this tragic event.
Two days before the rally, during a walk-through of the site, a state police official questioned who was responsible for securing the nearby warehouse roof. The Secret Service responded that local police would handle it. However, on the day of the rally, two officers from Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) left their posts inside a building overlooking the roof to search for Crooks on foot.
Crooks was able to ascend the roof undetected and remained there for roughly three minutes before opening fire on Trump. Investigators believe that he fired eight rounds during the shooting, one of which struck Trump in the arm. A municipal officer had a brief confrontation with Crooks before he opened fire but fell when Crooks aimed his rifle at him.
Colonel Paris testified about communication and responsibility breakdowns during the security situation leading up to the shooting. He also noted that despite being just approximately 147 yards from Trump's podium, the roof where Crooks fired rounds was outside of the Secret Service's security perimeter.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following her testimony before a different committee on July 22. She faced criticism for not placing law enforcement personnel on the roof of the building, instead opting to post them in the building beside it.
These revelations have raised concerns about security protocols during political events and sparked calls for increased cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
