Local police saw gunman multiple times before Trump rally shooting
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A photo held by a lawmaker on July 22 of the building from which the shooter fired at former President Trump earlier this month. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Local law enforcement saw the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Trump on multiple occasions before he first fired shots, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris told lawmakers Tuesday.
Why it matters: Key details from the rally, and the extent of the security failures that led up to the shooting, are coming into clearer focus amid a series of federal and congressional probes.
- The shooting at Trump's political rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, killed one person and injured the former president and two others.
Context: Paris said the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday that the U.S. Secret Service had assigned the Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) to secure the building used by the shooter.
- All members of ESU have attended basic and advanced SWAT schools through the National Tactical Officers Association.
- The building, a complex of warehouses north of the rally, was outside of the event's security perimeter.
- The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, climbed on top of the building's roof before firing multiple shots toward Trump. A Secret Service sniper then shot and killed Crooks.
Between the lines: Until Tuesday, it was unclear which law enforcement agency was assigned to secure the warehouse complex.
- Officials said in hearings after the shooting that local police agencies told the Secret Service that they did not have enough resources to secure the building during the rally.
What they're saying: At least two ESU officers were posted on the building's second floor, Paris said.
- They initially flagged Crooks as suspicious because he was loitering outside the perimeter of the rally location, he said. Law enforcement's suspicions were heightened after Crooks later produced a rangefinder.
- They took a photo of Crooks and sent it to state police, who "immediately" relayed it to Secret Service, Paris said, adding that this had occurred about 20 to 30 minutes before Crooks opened fire.
- Butler County ESU and other local law enforcement agencies did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on Tuesday.
Zoom in: The ESU officers left their posts to join others who were looking for Crooks, Paris told lawmakers.
- Paris said a municipal officer searching for the suspicious person was able to see Crooks on the roof before the shooting by being boosted by another officer and hanging onto the roof's ledge.
- Crooks pointed his rifle at the officer, who could not draw his weapon and confront the gunman because he was suspended on the ledge.
- Paris said the municipal officer saw Crooks on the roof "seconds" before the first shot was fired.
Paris said the Secret Service was notified that law enforcement was in the area around the building looking for a suspicious person.
- He said he could not give an exact timeline on when the ESU officers left
their post. He would not say whether the ESU officers would have been able to see and stop Crooks had they remained at their post.
The big picture: House lawmakers have said that FBI and Secret Service officials told them that the building from which the gunman fired his shots was identified as "an area of concern" as early as five days ahead of the event.
- They have also been told that on the day of the rally the Secret Service was notified of a suspicious person with a rangefinder roughly 20 minutes before shots were fired and 10 minutes before Trump walked on stage.
Go deeper: Secret Service director resigns after Trump assassination attempt
