A report from the Department of Homeland Security inspector general revealed that a counter-drone operator for the Secret Service unsuccessfully searched online for the location of a rooftop from which a would-be assassin targeted President Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
The findings highlighted significant lapses by the Secret Service, indicating that they “missed multiple chances to prevent” the assassination attempt by Thomas Crooks, a man with a troubling past. A key issue was a breakdown in communication that meant Trump’s security team wasn’t informed that an armed man had ascended to the roof of the American Glass Research International (AGR) complex, located merely 155 meters from the rally stage.
According to the report, at 6:09 p.m., local police alerted various communication rooms about a suspicious individual on the roof. However, the Secret Service personnel failed to act promptly. They didn’t seek details about the AGR’s location and did not view the situation as a threat. Instead, communications were passed along to counter-drone operators, who were perhaps overwhelmed, as the report noted they perceived their radio channels to be too busy. One operator, sitting close by, offered help but didn’t recall the alert regarding the suspicious person.
In a somewhat alarming turn, these counter-drone operators resorted to Googling the location, rather than contacting local law enforcement for specifics.
The report indicated that while searching online, the officers continued their search as Crooks fired the first shots. Just two minutes after being alerted to the rooftop gunman, Crooks unleashed eight shots, grazing Trump and injuring several others, resulting in one death among the rally attendees.
It’s worth noting that even after local police communicated their concerns starting at 5:42 p.m., there was still no immediate recognition of the impostor as a serious threat by the Secret Service’s communications team.
Additionally, the Secret Service did not establish a joint communications channel with local police, leading to a staggering 102 radio transmissions regarding the shooter going unacknowledged. There were several urgent warnings that the Secret Service could not hear, including detailed descriptions of the suspect’s movements and appearance.
Finally, it was revealed that, prior to the rally, the Secret Service rejected a request from Trump campaign staff to place a truck as a barrier between the stage and the AGR complex, citing visual concerns for media coverage.
Crooks was ultimately shot and killed by law enforcement shortly after he opened fire at the event. The Secret Service has not made an immediate public comment regarding the report.
