The Secret Service’s Failure to Prevent Deadly Shooting at Trump Rally

The Secret Service’s failure to act on warnings about Thomas Michael Crooks being a “threat” just minutes before former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, led to a tragic outcome. Despite being labeled as a person of suspicion with a rangefinder and a backpack, Crooks was allowed to roam freely on the grounds with no follow-up from security.

The catastrophic errors continued as Crooks managed to take an elevated position on the AGR International building’s roof, overlooking the rally. The decision not to station a sniper on the slanted roof gave Crooks the perfect vantage point to carry out his deadly assault.

Even before the rally began, the oversight in securing the perimeter of the building and the lack of adequate protection outside and on the roof allowed Crooks to position himself with his weapon undetected. The security personnel also failed to act on multiple reports of Crooks’ suspicious behavior, including being photographed and reported shortly before the shooting.

As the chaos unfolded and Crooks prepared to take his shot, the Secret Service’s series of missed opportunities and failures culminated in the first assassination attempt on a former or current US president in over four decades. The Secret Service is now under scrutiny and calls for Chief Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation are mounting as the investigation into the security lapses continues.