I’m not sure where people are getting this “5 foot ladder” quote. The ladder in the photo is a 10 foot step ladder. Quite a load to be hauling on a car or lugging a mile from a parking site. Things are not adding up.
He did purchase a 5-foot all-aluminum ladder, iirc, from Home Depot.
The ladder shown in the photos that we have all seen is a much longer ladder and the rails on it are fiberglass. It is and has been permanently mounted to the building to allow easy access for maintenance purposes.
Since he was scouting the area around the rally for several days, maybe he used the 5-foot ladder then. From first reports, he didn't use either ladder the day of the rally. It was first reported that day by at least one witness that he 'bear-climbed' a drainage pipe (downspout).
So, all data and speculation about a ladder may be irrelevant and merely a distraction.
I’m not sure where people are getting this “5 foot ladder” quote. The ladder in the photo is a 10 foot step ladder.
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Maybe he did not use that tall ladder, but used a 5’ one somewhere else on the building complex - he was seen crossing several roof tops to get in position.
Using the ladder in the photo would mean passing in front of the buildings entrances, where SS and police were stationed (on their donut breaks?)