Posted on 07/19/2024 9:22:29 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
It keeps getting worse: Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, reportedly flew a drone over the rally area shortly before he executed his attack. Crooks scaled a rooftop unmolested, despite scores of attendees watching him army crawl on the roof, which was left unprotected by the Secret Service, as he lined up to take shots at Trump.
The roof was less than 200 yards from the stage. Donald Trump Jr. responded to this update tweeting, "Just to underscore how crazy this all is, I was once prevented flying my own drone off of the beach at Mar-a-Lago by USSS because my father was inside the house" (via WSJ):
WSJ, breaking: “The gunman who tried to kill Donald Trump was able to fly a drone and get aerial footage of the western Pennsylvania fairgrounds shortly before the former president was set to speak there, law-enforcement officials briefed on the matter said, further underscoring…— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) July 19, 2024
A gunman who tried to kill Donald Trump was able to fly a drone and get aerial footage of the western Pennsylvania fairgrounds shortly before the former president was set to speak there, law-enforcement officials briefed on the matter said, further underscoring the stunning security lapses ahead of Trump’s near assassination.
Thomas Matthew Crooks flew the drone on a programmed flight path earlier in the day on July 13 to scour the Butler Farm Show grounds ahead of Trump’s ill-fated rally, the officials said. The predetermined path, the officials added, suggests Crooks flew the drone more than once as he researched and scoped out the event site.
The 20-year-old would-be assassin fired at least six rounds from the roof of the American Glass Research building roughly 400 feet away from where Trump spoke, killing one spectator, critically injuring two others and leaving Trump with a graze wound to the ear. A Secret Service sniper team shot back, killing Crooks, whose motive remains a mystery.
Multiple investigations are under way into how a gunman was able to climb onto a rooftop with a clear line of sight to Trump and open fire with an AR-15 rifle. Police had become suspicious of Crooks more than an hour earlier, when officers saw him milling about the edges of the rally with a range finder and a backpack.
FOX NEWS ALERT: ‘Trump gunman flew drone over rally site hours before event,’ reports WSJ.
“Unbelievable. There are growing questions for the Secret Service Director - this is getting worse by the day,” says @IngrahamAngle with reaction from @MarshaBlackburn. pic.twitter.com/0YjLudtOJn— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) July 20, 2024
Why the Secret Service left the rooftop unprotected remains the predominant issue, especially since it was flagged as a security vulnerability. There were snipers in the adjacent building at the time of the attack, with another Secret Service sniper team having their sights on Crooks two minutes before he fired the first shot. Yet, even before the rally, the Secret Service was informed that there was a credible threat against Trump’s life 10 minutes before he took the stage but allowed him to proceed anyway.
Trump was the target of an Iranian assassination plot, so he was given increased security, and this shooting still occurred. Trump missed a fatal headshot by millimeters. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) revealed today that most of Trump’s security detail weren’t even Secret Service agents. There is a mountain of questions that need answers. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should be prepared to be grilled when he testified before the House Oversight Committee on Monday.
Authorities spotted crooks over an hour before he scaled the roof, being caught scouting the location with a rangefinder. It's a security failure worthy of Cheatle's resignation, but she has the protection of Jill Biden, who reportedly pushed for her to get the job.
Just to underscore how crazy this all is, I was once prevented flying MY OWN drone off of the beach at Mar-a-Lago by USSS because my father was inside the house…
Now we have one literally scouting his speech!!! 🤬 https://t.co/M3BAENqT4f— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 20, 2024
UPDATE: What a mess via Bill Melugin:
NEW: Per federal law enforcement source w/ knowledge of the security planning for Trump’s Butler, PA rally, the event was staffed by 22 Secret Service agents, including advance, assault, and sniper teams, 16 HSI agents, and it is believed there was no SS drone in the air.
Per…— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 19, 2024
Per federal law enforcement source w/ knowledge of the security planning for Trump’s Butler, PA rally, the event was staffed by 22 Secret Service agents, including advance, assault, and sniper teams, 16 HSI agents, and it is believed there was no SS drone in the air.
Per source, Secret Service did not request any tactical support from HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) beforehand, including the HSI elite Special Response team. HSI agents were assigned to “post standing” security duties at the street entrance and the media area, and were not responsible for the close proximity around Trump, or the buildings on the exterior of the area where the shooter was.
The entire operational security plan was created and carried out by Secret Service, which told HSI and local law enforcement where they needed bodies, and was responsible for the advance planning.
A 20 year old had a drone and the secret service, with a budget of $3.6 billion, did not. https://t.co/RB3O2lXhbl— Rosie Memos (@almostjingo) July 19, 2024
Which vehicle? The van or the Sonata?
No, I took a look at the impulse responses of the 1st few shots of the 2nd group, from one of the nearby (to Crooks) vids. (I’m into audio & acoustics and have such software / gear.) There are definitely at least 5 individual shots in that group plus the reflections of each. Another higher pitch sounding shot quickly follows with a bit different echo.
From other vantage points it’s possible the reflections (echoes) could be taken as additional shots. But from the nearby to Crooks vid, the shots even sound like exactly what one would expect from rapid trigger pulls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbsFf96VnNc
(Start listening at ~ 0:50)
3 shots, 5 much quicker shots, 1 shot (higher pitch sound than any others), delay and another shot, sounds different yet again.
There is (or was) yet another vid where the 5 shot group sounds even louder relative to the other shots, but I can’t find it now & don’t have all morning. (Gotta take advantage of cooler temps while they last!!!) The link above is pretty definitive, in any case.
That’s a very good question. If things get too messy I bet some phony dossier will pop up saying RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA!
Crooks was taught by someone and there is some forensic evidence that there was more than 1 shooter.
DOJ, FBI, HHS and CIA are all in on this.
The Globalist pukes are the money behind this insanity. The word got out, 12 million shares of Trump’s Truth Social were short-sold the day before the assassination attempt.
This is NOT about a rogue 20 year old kid. This is another continuing attempt to destroy the USA. And President Trump is in their way. But they want to enslave all of us.
Looks like Crooks did a better job of recon than the vaunted Secret Service.
Enter Iran into the assassination arena.
I no longer believe this attack was due to gross imcompetence. Either they let it happen or they made it happen. The KGB got nothing on US TLAs.
Yes completely different sound. Besides that sound difference:
1. Interval between shots in first group of three is maybe three times longer than the interval between shots in second group. To me, that indicates a different shooter using a different weapon. The shooter of the second group of shots is more experienced and can keep rifle aim on target more proficiently than first shooter. Does the second weapon have less recoil, less lift, and faster action?
2. The big difference in echoes. The first shooter has a large, acoustically hard, vertical surface behind him. The second shooter does not have such a surface behind or nearby and might be indoors.
No, Not the Main Stream Media. Individuals at the Rally have huge amounts of video. And those at site are correcting the stupid stuff from the MSM.
There is NO TRUTH, from the DOJ or FBI or HHS. FACT
I called my congressman’s office near me and explained in detail why they must act because otherwise the Alphabet agencies will bury all the data and details.
From beginning, I was sure that a lone 20 year old boy could pull this off. It gets clearer ever day that is so.
There are 2 distinct calibers fired not counting the counter sniper on the rooftop. Check out https://rumble.com/v57hp8j-audio-analysis-is-100-clear-trump-and-crowd-were-shot-at-by-two-separate-pe.html.
Good graphics.
Thanks.
If I remember correctly they said his car. The Sonata.
That’s the first time I’ve seen that video. MORE unanswered questions….
I know, every time Trump has a rally, I will be sick at my stomach.
I guess they may try another way now. Very perilous ahead.
I imagine that is why they did not want Barron out and about. He is a large and obvious entity.
Why did the parents find it necessary to report their 20 year old adult son missing that day?
We’ve not heard who their attorney is but he/she seems to be over the top excellent at keeping them away from all media. Every other case, someone in the family can’t wait to talk. Who’s footing that big bill?
Did the shooter want to commit suicide, or was he a Sirhan Sirhan wanna-be who instead was used as a patsy and killed off.
Whether the guys on the red barn did or didn’t get the go on Crooks, it sure took them a while especially being already sighted in and ready. Six shots is a lot of misses since he probably was likely fairly stable.
How many bullet casings did they find by Crooks. Are they the same Calibre?
He’s assuming the ground is level and the buildings are on the same level as the stage and stands.
What exactly were his duties at work? The dishwasher? Scooped mashed potatoes on trays? From all accounts, he didn’t aspire higher education or skills. No friends, it seems. No girlfriend but looked at porn online. A loner in school and a loner at 20. Doubt he went to the range much since his parents noticed the missing rifle right away. There was something going on with him that greatly concerned his parents to report him as missing immediately.
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