A chilling new video has been released showing Thomas Matthew Crooks casually walking through a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, nearly two hours before he opened fire on former President Donald Trump and attendees at a campaign rally. The short clip, released by the clothing company Iron Clad USA, shows Crooks at 4:26 p.m. dressed in shorts and a “Demolitia” T-shirt walking past a line of vendors selling Trump merchandise ahead of the July 13 rally. He was wearing the same T-shirt when he opened fire on Trump and is not carrying anything in the eerie video. Crooks later climbed onto the roof of the nearby AGR building and fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s right ear. One attendee, Corey Comperatore, was fatally struck, while two others were also hit and suffered serious injuries. The U.S. Secret Service is reviewing footage from July 13 as part of their mission assurance review in order to prevent such a failure from happening again.
A preliminary report released by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., found that all eight shell casings were recovered and are in proper possession of the FBI. Higgins stated that Crooks’ position on the roof of the AGR building provided him with excellent concealment from the northern counter-sniper team due to foliage and branches of two trees. One shot was fired by a Butler SWAT operator from the ground, about 100 yards away from the AGR building, hitting Crooks’ rifle stock and causing fragmentation in his face and shoulder area from the stock breaking up. This shot damaged the buffer tube on Crooks’ rifle, meaning that the rifle would not have fired after his eighth shot. The FBI released Crooks’ body for cremation just 10 days after he was killed, which raised concerns as Rep. Higgins was unable to view the body. An FBI spokesperson explained that the body was released to the family after coordination with the coroner’s office and law enforcement partners in accordance with normal procedures.
The clothing company Iron Clad USA, which released the video of Crooks walking through the crowd before the rally, expressed shock at the terrifying incident which took place during the Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The company owner posted the video on TikTok, stating, “Terrifying moment… looking back on my videos from the PA Butler Trump rally on 7/13/24. We were there just trying to sell our patriotic hats from my small business.” The Secret Service is conducting a thorough review of the operational failure that led to the assassination attempt on Trump and the tragic death of one attendee. The agency is committed to examining processes, procedures, and factors that contributed to the incident in order to ensure it never happens again.
The video footage released by Iron Clad USA and the subsequent investigation by the Secret Service have shed light on the events leading up to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Crooks’ actions before opening fire on Trump and attendees at the rally have raised questions about security measures and operational failures that allowed such a tragic event to occur. The findings of the preliminary report released by Rep. Clay Higgins provide insight into the technical aspects of the shooting, including the location of Crooks during the attack and the damage caused to his rifle by law enforcement. The release of Crooks’ body for cremation shortly after his death has also raised concerns about the handling of evidence in the case.
The Secret Service’s commitment to conducting a thorough review of the operational failure and the factors that led to the assassination attempt on Trump demonstrates a determination to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future. The agency’s mission assurance review will likely result in changes to security procedures and protocols to enhance protection for public figures and prevent similar attacks in the future. The chilling video of Crooks walking through the crowd before the rally serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers faced by high-profile individuals and the importance of robust security measures at public events. The tragic deaths and injuries resulting from the shooting highlight the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in ensuring the safety of all individuals in attendance at public gatherings.
