Marco Julian Serrano An assassination try on Ex-President Donald Trump led to multiple probes into the event and the security measures. Officers released a timeline showing 20 year old Thomas Matthew Cro’ actions, along with the actions taken by Secret Service and local police.
Incident Timeline
Law enforcement says Crooks was first under suspicion at 5,10 p.m. on the rally day. At around 5:30 p.m., he was seen with a rangefinder, then at 5 p.m., he was on a rooftop outside the safe zone. The shooting took place at 6:12 p.m., right after Trump appeared on stage.
- 5:10 p.m. Crooks under suspicion
- 5:30 p.m. Crooks has a rangefinder
- 5:52 p.m. Crooks on the roof
- 6:02 p.m. Trump starts speaking
- 6:12 p.m. Crooks started shooting
It took 26 seconds from the first shot for the Secret Service to take down Crooks. Secret Service snipers found and killed Crooks 11 seconds and 15 seconds after the first shot respectively.
Probes and Security Issues
The Secret Service’s actions during the incident have been brought to question. The Director, Kimberly Cheatle, needs to come before Congress. The FBI and Secret Service have done over 200 discussions and have looked at 14,000 photos as part of the probe but are yet to know why Crooks did it.
- FBI does over 200 interviews
- Looked at 14,000 photos
- Motivation still unknown
Crook’s phone history included trying to find out when Trump’s rally and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago were happening. He also had photos of both Trump and President Joe Biden. Nonetheless, no political motives are identified. Officials stated that Crooks didn’t show strong political liking and was occasionally bullied in the past as his parents stated.
Security Failings and Actions
Reports say Crooks bought an ammunition box from a Walmart as soon as the rally was declared. On the rally day, he was wandering near the security scanners. When the police became suspicious, they started looking for him. He climbed an AC unit to the rooftop of the American Glass Research building and shot at Trump.
- Crooks gets ammunition after the rally news
- Seen wandering near security scanners
- Climbed AC unit to reach roof
Eyewitnesses saw Crooks climbing the AGR building to the shooting spot. Investigators found a remote transmitter on him, possibly meant to trigger suspicious devices in his car and house. These devices were made from ammunition boxes and could cause an explosion or distraction.
Law Enforcement and Secret Service Response
Secret Service snipers situated on nearby buildings knew that police were using the AGR building. This could have slowed their reactions as they were trying to determine if Crooks was a threat. Once the shots were fired, the snipers moved quickly to take him down.
- AGR building used as a police base.
- Possible delay in reaction due to threat assessment.
- Quick reaction by Secret Service snipers after shots.
A police car was requested by the Secret Service to be stationed at the AGR building, but one wasn’t provided by the local police. This raised concerns as to whether more precautions could have avoided the incident.
Reactions from Politicians and Community
After the shooting, community members and politicians voiced concerns on safety at political events. Chicago Police have decided to increase the security measures for the coming Democratic National Convention. However, Rep. Tim Burchett isn’t happy with the FBI’s probe as he doesn’t think they lack motivation.
- Increased security measures for upcoming event.
- FBI probe criticised by Rep. Tim Burchett.
Ex-President Trump was shot in his right ear, and three others attending the rally were shot. Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, got shot while trying to shield his family and died. The other two attendees are stable now. DNA tests confirm Crooks as the shooter, and his father reported him and an ARstyle rifle missing after the shooting.
As probes continue, the Secret Service and local law enforcement are planning to better future event protections. The reasons for Crooks’ actions are still unclear, leaving many unknowns regarding the tragic event.
