Bodycam Footage Reveals Police Interrupting Trump Shooter Moments Before Assassination Attempt
In Butler, Pennsylvania, the police department released startling bodycam footage that shows their desperate attempt to prevent an attempted assassination against the former President Trump. The footage was obtained by a records request and disclosed the frenzied scenes in the crucial moments leading up to and after the shocking incident.
Confrontation on the Roof
The gut-wrenching footage shows two officers desperately attempting to apprehend Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was situated on a rooftop moments before he planned to carry out his heinous actions. Despite their best efforts, they could not prevent Crooks from firing his DPMS AR-15 rifle. The incident resulted in one fatality, injuries to two others, and a grazing wound to Trump’s ear.
Amid the chaos, one officer is visible lifting his colleague towards the roof where Crooks was perched. The roof’s height was approximately 12 feet off the ground, creating a dangerous situation for the officers.
Near-Miss with the Shooter
The climactic point of the footage shows the weapon-wielding Crooks turning on the officer who tried to scale the building, prompting him to duck and lose his grip on the edge of the roof. The officer plunged approximately 8 feet to the ground, suffering a sprained ankle in the process.
Aftermath of the Incident
Additional footage showed the immediate aftermath, capturing Crooks just as officers surrounded his body after counter-snipers successfully neutralized him. The officers, visibly distressed and angered, discussed their inability to locate the shooter sooner.
The video evidence raises several questions regarding why the roof of the American Glass Research (AGR) building, which offered a shooting vantage point for Crooks, was unmanned during the incident. The officers on the scene also voiced confusion over the shooter not being neutralized prior to him opening fire.
Rally Security Breaches
Finger-pointing among local, state, and federal agencies has mired the security breaches that allowed for the shooting to occur. Publicly available information continues to shed light on the string of events that day and the measures taken to stop Crooks.
Before the assassination attempt, Crooks had stayed at the rally site for a brief period, scoped out the area, and then left, only to return later. He maneuvered a drone around the site, which has raised questions about its intended purpose, although no footage or pictures were discovered in the device.
Despite witnessing suspicious behavior and the utilization of a range finder by Crooks towards the rally stage, the magnitude of the impending threat seemed to have been underestimated. The subsequent tragic events once again reignite discussions on strengthening security measures at rallies and public events involving prominent figures.
