The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-type rifle got close enough to former President Donald Trump to shoot and wound him at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, a major failure of one of the agency’s core missions.
The gunman, who was shot and killed by Secret Service agents, fired several shots at the stage from “an elevated position outside the rally venue,” the agency said.
An Associated Press analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from Trump’s rallies, as well as satellite imagery of the venue, showed that the shooter was able to get surprisingly close to the stage where the former president was speaking.
Video footage located by The Associated Press and posted to social media showed the body of a man dressed in gray camouflage clothing lying motionless on the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farms exhibit where Trump’s rally was held.
Gunfire erupted as Donald Trump spoke at a rally, and police snipers returned fire (Jean J. Puskar/Associated Press)
For reference, 150 meters is the distance at which U.S. military recruits must shoot a human-sized silhouette to be qualified to use an M16 assault rifle in basic training.
The AR-style rifle carried by the shooter at the rally is a semi-automatic civilian version of the military-style M16.
The FBI on Sunday identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The Secret Service did not speak at a late-night news conference where the FBI and Pennsylvania State Police briefed reporters on the shooting investigation.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek said it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire before killing someone.
Latest FBI statement on yesterday’s incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. https://t.co/yqwxGmKOjw pic.twitter.com/pk2Rw55Lga
— FBI (@FBI) July 14, 2024
Members of the Secret Service’s anti-sniper and anti-assault teams were present at the rally, according to two law enforcement officials.
The heavily armed counter-attack team, codenamed Hawkeye by the Secret Service, is tasked with eliminating threats so other agents can protect and take out those they are protecting.
The counter-sniper team, codenamed “Hercules,” uses long-range binoculars and is equipped with sniper rifles to deal with long-distance threats.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service were working with law enforcement to investigate the shooting.
He said ensuring the security of presidential candidates and their campaigns was one of the department’s “most important priorities.”
“We condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence and commend the Secret Service for their swift action today,” Mayorkas said.
“We are working with President (Joe) Biden, former President Trump and their campaigns to take every possible step to ensure their safety and security.”
Calls for an investigation came from all quarters.
The FBI said it was leading the investigation into the shooting, working with the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement agencies.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department would “devote all available resources to this investigation.”
“My heart is with the former president, the injured and the families of those in attendance who died in this horrific attack,” Garland said in a statement.
“We do not tolerate any violence. Such violence is an attack on our democracy.”
