Failed attack on Donald Trump: bystanders report gunman, law enforcement criticized

A video and several eyewitness accounts show that bystanders spotted a gunman targeting Donald Trump and alerted law enforcement. The local sheriff confirms that an officer tried to intervene without success. Security at the event, organized by the Secret Service, has been severely criticized since the assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13.

Many observers are questioning how 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to reach the roof of a hangar just 120 meters from the podium without being intercepted. According to NBC News, this roof had been identified as a “potential vulnerability” by the Secret Service.

Since the incident, several images and testimonials have reinforced criticism of the event’s security. A video authenticated by The New York Times and The Washington Post shows bystanders spotting the gunman and attempting to alert law enforcement.

At 6:09pm, two minutes before the first shots were fired, a man in the video shouts: “There’s someone on the roof (…) He’s lying down”. A woman adds: “He’s on the roof! Right here, right on the roof!”, while Thomas Matthew Crooks is seen crawling. Another witness tells the BBC that he and others tried for “two or three minutes” to alert the police, without success. He explains that Crooks was out of sight of the Secret Service snipers because of the slope of the roof.

Butler County Sheriff Michael T. Slupe confirms that one of his officers attempted to arrest the shooter. The officer, who climbed onto the roof after being warned, had to quickly climb back down under Crooks’ threat. “He let go because he didn’t want to be killed,” says Slupe, pointing out that Crooks shot Donald Trump shortly afterwards.

The Secret Service, in a statement, praised local police work without mentioning the sheriff’s statements. “Our agency relies on the support of courageous police officers and local partners. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment and bravery. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply false,” he said on his X account.

In the face of criticism, Joe Biden ordered an “independent” investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assassination attempt. The Secret Service has pledged its full participation. Its director, Kimberly Cheatle, who refuses to resign, has been invited by the Republicans to testify before Congress on July 22.

Questions about security

The spectators present were the first to spot the danger and tried to report it, but their alert was not sufficiently heeded. Ben Maser, a 41-year-old welder, said he had twice spoken to a policeman about the presence of a man on the roof of the shed. Another witness told the BBC that he and others tried for “two or three minutes” to alert the police, to no avail.

The Secret Service, responsible for the security of presidents and former presidents, is at the heart of the criticism. How could Crooks have climbed with his gun onto a hangar just 120 meters from the podium without being arrested? This question remains unanswered, and is fuelling criticism of the effectiveness of the security arrangements in place.

Reactions and measures

President Joe Biden has ordered an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assassination attempt, stating that all possible wrongdoing must be fully investigated. The Secret Service has promised to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Kimberly Cheatle, Director of the Secret Service, has ruled out resigning despite mounting pressure. She is due to appear before Congress on July 22 to answer Republican questions on the matter.