SWAT Teams Warned of Suspect Near Trump Rally Site Before Shooting Incident

Butler, Pennsylvania United States of America
A local SWAT sniper identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as a suspicious individual near the warehouse overlooking the rally site at around 4:26 p.m.
Another SWAT team member texted about a young man with long stringy hair sitting near the warehouse, later identified as Thomas Crooks.
Despite these warnings, there seemed to be a lack of communication between law enforcement agencies.
Former President Donald Trump was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.
SWAT Teams Warned of Suspect Near Trump Rally Site Before Shooting Incident

Former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024 was the site of an assassination attempt. The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to gain access to a roof and open fire on Trump and the crowd. However, the events leading up to this shocking incident were not as straightforward as they seemed.

According to reports from various sources,

At around 4:26 p.m., a local SWAT sniper identified Crooks as a suspicious individual sitting near the warehouse overlooking the rally site. The sniper alerted his colleagues about Crooks' presence, but he was no longer in sight by 5:10 p.m.

Meanwhile, at 4:26 p.m., another SWAT team member texted about a young man with long stringy hair sitting near the warehouse. This individual was later identified as Thomas Crooks.

Despite these warnings, there seemed to be a lack of communication between law enforcement agencies. Beaver County SWAT team's lead sharpshooter Jason Woods reported no contact with Secret Service members before Trump took the stage.

Former President Trump was indeed struck by a bullet during the shooting incident. The FBI confirmed that it was a bullet that hit his right ear, and he received treatment at Butler Memorial Hospital.

The Secret Service has since responded to reports about the lack of communication between agencies, vowing to understand the timeline to ensure it never happens again.

It is important to note that these are just reports and investigations are ongoing. It is crucial for all sides of the story to be heard and for facts to be presented without bias or deception.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if the lack of communication was due to intentional negligence or technical difficulties.
  • The investigation is ongoing and all sides of the story have not been heard.

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Local SWAT snipers saw Trump rally gunman nearly 2 hours before assassination attempt, text messages show

ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Monday, 29 July 2024 05:04
  • Unique Points
    • On July 13, a local SWAT sniper noticed the suspected gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania nearly two hours before the shooting began.
    • A member of the SWAT team identified Crooks as suspicious less than an hour before the shooting and called it into local command, warning of his presence.
    • Jason Woods, lead sharpshooter on the SWAT team, noted that they were supposed to receive a face-to-face briefing with Secret Service members but it never happened and there was no communication between the teams.
  • Accuracy
    • Thomas Matthew Crooks was sitting about 50 yards from the exit and may have been aware of the snipers’ presence due to observing them go out with their riferts.
    • Crooks was no longer in sight by 5:10 p.m.
    • An officer saw Crooks pointing a range finder towards the rally stage.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Gunman at Trump Rally Often One Step Ahead of Secret Service

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Haley Willis, Sunday, 28 July 2024 19:02
  • Unique Points
    • A local countersniper texted about a young man with long stringy hair sitting near the warehouse overlooking the rally site at 4:26 p.m.
    • The young man was later identified as Thomas Crooks, the gunman who shot and injured several people at the rally.
    • Thomas Crooks was no longer in sight by 5:10 p.m.
  • Accuracy
    • Crooks was about 50 yards from the rally exit at a picnic table around 5:10 p.m.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

90%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Secret Service responds to reports about lack of communication after Trump assassination attempt

Fox News Media Greg Wehner, Monday, 29 July 2024 05:05
  • Unique Points
    • There were reports of suspicious persons prior to the shooting but there was no communication between law enforcement agencies.
    • Beaver County SWAT team’s lead sharpshooter Jason Woods reported no contact with Secret Service members before Trump took the stage.
    • Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned following the assassination attempt and investigations have been launched.
  • Accuracy
    • Jason Woods, lead sharpshooter on the SWAT team, noted that they were supposed to receive a face-to-face briefing with Secret Service members but it never happened and there was no communication between the teams.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt

The Associated Press News Friday, 26 July 2024 23:00
  • Unique Points
    • Former President Trump was struck by a bullet during the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania
    • The FBI confirmed that it was indeed a bullet that hit Trump’s ear
    • Trump received treatment for a gunshot wound to the right ear at Butler Memorial Hospital
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The article does not contain any clear examples of bias towards a specific political ideology, religion, or monetary gain. However, the author does use language that depicts Trump and his supporters as being 'furious' and 'stoked conspiracy theories' when the FBI initially did not confirm that Trump was hit by a bullet. This language could be seen as implying that those who question the official narrative are irrational or extreme.
    • fury from Trump and his allies
      • The comment drew fury from Trump and his allies and further stoked conspiracy theories
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      77%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Texts Show How Officers Lost Track of Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks

      The Daily Beast Full Legal Name: IACI (NASDAQ: IACI) About Us URL:➆https://www.thedailybeast.com/company/about-us➉ Josh Fiallo Monday, 29 July 2024 02:41
      • Unique Points
        • Thomas Matthew Crooks gained access to a roof and shot at former President Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
        • Thomas Crooks was always one step ahead of security forces, including the Secret Service.
      • Accuracy
        • Thomas Matthew Crooks was flagged as suspicious 90 minutes before the Pennsylvania rally
        • An officer warned of Crooks’ presence near their location about 4:26 p.m.
        • Police lost sight of Crooks before he reached the rooftop where he opened fire on Trump
        • The FBI was not monitoring Crooks prior to the shooting, but he had been planning his attack thoroughly including using a drone to survey the site
      • Deception (30%)
        The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position about law enforcement's failure to prevent the shooting. The author does not provide any context or information about why officers may have had limited resources or why they may have prioritized other threats. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through phrases like 'raising further questions' and 'egregious at a presidential candidate's rally'.
        • Texts made public Sunday revealed Donald Trump’s would-be assassin was flagged as suspicious at least 90 minutes before he opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally this month.
        • It wasn’t until 5:38 p.m. that, over text, one of the counter-snipers suggested that someone should alert the Secret Service.
        • Other texts obtained by the Times revealed that an officer spotted Crooks using a range finder about 20 minutes before the rally began and snapped photos of him—but didn’t approach him.
      • Fallacies (80%)
        The author makes several statements that imply a lack of action or incompetence on the part of law enforcement officers, but these statements are based on information provided by The New York Times and do not contain any explicit logical fallacies. However, there is an instance of an appeal to authority when the author states 'The FBI revealed last week that Crooks was not on its radar prior to the shooting.' This statement implies that because the FBI made this revelation, it must be true. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used throughout the article, such as 'egregious' and 'debacle,' but these do not constitute logical fallacies on their own. Therefore, I am scoring this article a 80.
        • The FBI revealed last week that Crooks was not on its radar prior to the shooting.
      • Bias (95%)
        The author, Josh Fiallo, demonstrates a clear bias against law enforcement in this article. He repeatedly criticizes their actions leading up to the shooting at the Trump rally and implies that they were incompetent or negligent. For example, he states that 'despite the repeated communications between officers at the site, none of the officers nearby moved to intercept Thomas Matthew Crooks, eventually losing track him.' This language is biased as it assumes that law enforcement should have been able to prevent the shooting and implies that they were responsible for Crooks being able to get close enough to Trump. The author also states that 'it wasn’t until 5:38 p.m. that, over text, one of the counter-snipers suggested that someone should alert the Secret Service.' This statement is biased as it implies that the Secret Service should have been alerted earlier and could have prevented the shooting if they had been. The author also uses language like 'extremely poor planning' and 'lack of manpower' to further criticize law enforcement. These statements are not based on facts, but rather the author's interpretation of events.
        • ]despite the repeated communications between officers at the site, none of the officers nearby moved to intercept Thomas Matthew Crooks, eventually losing track him.[
          • it wasn’t until 5:38 p.m. that, over text, one of the counter-snipers suggested that someone should alert the Secret Service.
            • The FBI revealed last week that Crooks laid low without alerting law enforcement, using a drone to survey the site, compiling the ingredients to make a rudimentary bomb, and searching for information on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He also registered to attend the Trump rally the day after it was announced.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication