In a shocking revelation, newly released body camera footage has exposed the chaotic moments leading up to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month. The footage, obtained by NPR, captures the frantic response of law enforcement as they scrambled to locate and neutralize the gunman who had taken a position on the roof of a nearby building.
The video provides a first-person view from a local officer who was among the first to encounter the shooter, identified as Thomas Crooks. The officer's body camera, not activated at the start of the encounter, shows him being hoisted onto the roof by a fellow officer. As the officer peeks over the edge, he quickly drops back down and retreats to the ground, running to his vehicle to retrieve a long gun. Moments later, the officer reactivates his body camera, capturing the audio as he coordinates with other arriving officers.
"This close. Bro, dude, he turned around on me," the officer is heard recounting to his colleagues as they attempt to regroup and locate the shooter. The urgency in his voice reflects the high-stakes situation unfolding at the scene. The video also captures the confusion among the officers, who were frantically trying to access the rooftop where Crooks was positioned.
As the video progresses, more officers arrive on the scene, and the chaotic atmosphere intensifies. Shouts for a ladder and attempts to hoist each other onto the roof highlight the disarray that ensued as law enforcement struggled to respond effectively. Despite their efforts, Crooks managed to fire eight shots, one of which grazed Trump's ear, killing a former fire chief and critically injuring two other rally-goers.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the officer who first encountered Crooks volunteers to be lifted back onto the rooftop, where he joins three heavily armed officers who have surrounded the shooter's body. The footage shows a bloodied trail leading to Crooks, who was ultimately neutralized by Secret Service snipers. One officer is seen handcuffing the lifeless body as they wait for more backup to arrive.
The release of this footage has sparked significant criticism of the Secret Service's handling of the event, particularly after it was revealed that the officer who first encountered Crooks had warned the agency about the vulnerability of the building days before the rally. In a separate clip released by the Butler Township Police, the officer is heard expressing frustration that his warnings were not heeded.
"I told them they needed to post guys over here. I told them that," the officer is heard saying in the video. He goes on to explain that he had informed the Secret Service on July 9, four days before the rally, about the potential threat posed by the building where Crooks eventually set up his position. "The Secret Service assured us earlier in the week that 'we're going to post guys over here,'" the officer added, clearly frustrated that the measures were not implemented.
The failure to secure the rooftop has led to widespread criticism of the Secret Service, which has been accused of failing to protect the former president adequately. The agency's director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned from her post shortly after the incident, amid growing pressure from Congress and the public.
In response to the release of the bodycam footage, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi issued a statement acknowledging the agency's failure. "The U.S. Secret Service appreciates our local law enforcement partners, who acted courageously as they worked to locate the shooter that day," Guglielmi said. "The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was a U.S. Secret Service failure, and we are reviewing and updating our protective policies and procedures in order to ensure a tragedy like this never occurs again."
The Pennsylvania State Police had identified Crooks as "suspicious" before the attack, but the lapse in security measures has raised questions about the agency's preparedness and response protocols. As the investigation continues, the Secret Service faces increasing scrutiny, and potential disciplinary actions against agents who may have broken protocol on the day of the attack.
