The U.S. Secret Service is currently conducting an investigation into a significant security breach that occurred during a rally where former President Donald Trump was speaking in Pennsylvania. The agency is looking into how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle managed to get dangerously close to the stage where Trump was addressing the crowd. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was ultimately killed by Secret Service personnel.
Videos and photos taken at the Trump rally, along with satellite imagery of the site, reveal the alarming proximity of the shooter to the former president. A video posted on social media, geolocated by the Associated Press, shows the lifeless body of a man wearing gray camouflage on the roof of a nearby manufacturing plant. The roof was less than 150 meters away from the stage, a distance that could have allowed a skilled marksman to hit a human-sized target. It is worth noting that this distance is comparable to the qualification requirement for U.S. Army recruits using the M16 assault rifle in basic training.
The FBI has taken charge of the investigation and has identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. During a late-night news conference, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek expressed surprise at the shooter’s ability to fire at the stage before being neutralized.
While the Secret Service had members of its counter sniper team and counter assault team present at the rally, their effectiveness in preventing the breach is now under scrutiny. The agency’s failure to protect the former president has raised concerns about its core duties and prompted calls for a thorough investigation from both sides of the political spectrum.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of maintaining the security of presidential candidates and their campaign events, labeling it as one of the department’s top priorities. Mayorkas condemned the violence and commended the Secret Service for their swift response.
Various lawmakers, including James Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman, and Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, have called for investigations into the security failures at the rally. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has also expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety of upcoming events in Milwaukee.
The FBI, in collaboration with the Secret Service, local law enforcement, and state authorities, will lead the investigation. Attorney General Merrick Garland pledged the full resources of the Justice Department to support the inquiry, emphasizing that violence of any kind is an attack on democracy.
1 Response
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