In a shocking turn of events, the Secret Service is pointing fingers at local Pennsylvania police for failing to secure the rooftop from which Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. This incident occurred just 130 yards from the stage where Trump was speaking at AGR International Inc. factory grounds, outside the perimeter the Secret Service was responsible for, according to their representative, Anthony Gugliemi.
The Secret Service was tasked with securing the immediate rally grounds, while local police were supposed to handle the areas outside the rally, including the factory where Crooks positioned himself. However, neighbors near the Butler Farm Show Grounds, where the rally took place, reported no contact from law enforcement before or during the event.
Valerie Fennell, a resident whose home backs onto the rally grounds, expressed her surprise, "Nobody contacted me. Nobody. Nobody called me, nobody stopped here." This sentiment was echoed by her neighbors, who also reported no communication from law enforcement, despite their proximity to the rally site.
The security lapses extended into the rally itself. Attendees reported seeing Crooks acting suspiciously near the metal detectors, prompting local law enforcement to issue warnings over their radios to the Secret Service. Crooks was also seen with a rifle outside a security checkpoint and later jumping between rooftops before settling on the AGR factory.
Local police struggled to locate Crooks despite these alerts. It wasn't until 6:10 p.m. that a local officer climbed a ladder onto the AGR factory roof and encountered Crooks, who was armed and ready to fire. The officer retreated, and in those critical moments, Crooks fired eight bullets at the rally, striking Trump in the ear, killing bystander Corey Comperatore, and wounding two others.
In response, Secret Service snipers stationed on a nearby barn rooftop opened fire, killing Crooks. Despite their presence and apparent vigilance, it remains unclear if the snipers had identified Crooks before he started shooting.
The Secret Service's reliance on local law enforcement for support is standard practice, and in this case, included six officers from Butler County tactical units supplementing the Secret Service’s counter-assault team. This team was responsible for Trump's evacuation and consisted of only two Secret Service members, backed by two local sniper teams.
Pennsylvania State Police confirmed their role in assisting the Secret Service, emphasizing that the federal agency leads the security operations for such high-profile events. "Secret Service always has the lead on securing something like this," stated Lt. Col. George Bivens. "We work with them to provide whatever is requested by the Secret Service, but they’re the lead in that security."
The aftermath of this near-tragic event has sparked calls for an investigation into the Secret Service's protocols and the apparent security breakdown. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced plans to summon Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle for a hearing on July 22 to address these concerns.