In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, police body camera footage revealed that local law enforcement had warned the Secret Service about the need to secure the building where the gunman opened fire. Despite flagging the 20-year-old gunman as suspicious before the shooting, police expressed frustration at how he managed to evade their view, scale a roof, and fire at the former president and Republican presidential nominee. The officers also questioned why no law enforcement had been stationed on the roof during the event, leading to Trump being struck in the ear and resulting in the death of one spectator and injuries to two others.
Multiple investigations are now underway to determine the security failures that allowed the shooting to occur. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. has admitted that the agency cannot defend why the roof was not better secured during the event. The Secret Service controls the area after individuals pass through metal detectors, while local law enforcement is responsible for outside perimeter security. Rowe acknowledged that the agency assumed that state and local law enforcement had the situation under control, but has since committed to updating protective policies and procedures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service announced that the agency is currently reviewing the body camera footage related to the shooting. The U.S. Secret Service has recognized the bravery of local law enforcement officers who worked to locate the shooter, referring to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump as a failure on the part of the agency. The spokesperson emphasized the need to review and update protective policies and procedures to ensure that similar tragedies do not occur again in the future.
During the incident, two officers from local county sniper teams spotted the gunman acting suspiciously inside the complex of buildings. One officer ran outside to look for the suspect while the other remained inside on the second floor. Despite their efforts, neither officer was able to see the gunman on the adjacent building’s roof from their position, according to the Butler County District Attorney. Additional footage shows officers searching for the gunman moments before the shooting, with one officer climbing onto the roof where the gunman was found dead. The frustration and disappointment among law enforcement personnel were evident in their reactions after the shooting, with one officer expressing anger at not being able to find the suspect.
The acting Secret Service director has stated that local law enforcement did not alert the agency before the shooting that an armed individual had been spotted on a nearby roof. Following the incident, officers are seen in the footage climbing onto the roof where the gunman was located, expressing frustration at their inability to prevent the attack. The investigation into the security failures at the event continues, with a focus on improving communication and coordination between federal and local law enforcement agencies to enhance protection for high-profile individuals in the future.
