Newly released text messages have shed new light on the timeline leading up to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
According to these messages obtained by the New York Times [1], would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks had come to the attention of authorities more than 90 minutes before the shooting took place, contradicting previous claims by officials.
The texts exchanged between members of the Beaver County Emergency Service Unit, revealed that Crooks was aware of law enforcement presence as he planned his attack on the GOP nominee.
A counter-sniper texted a colleague, “Someone followed our lead and snuck in and parked by our cars just so you know.” The suspicious person turned out to be Crooks, who was seen with a range finder and observed looking towards the stage.
BREAKING: Leaked messages between countersn*pers reveal they were aware of Thomas Crooks about 90 minutes before Trump was nearly assas*inated.
One of the countersn*pers was reportedly leaving at the end of his shift when he noticed Crooks.
“Someone followed our lead and snuck… pic.twitter.com/bma8Pjfnye [2]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 29, 2024 [3]
Crooks eventually climbed onto the roof of the AGR International building warehouse, where he fired shots from his AR-15.
Photos of him were taken by one of the counter-snipers and shared in a group chat. One officer suggested notifying the Secret Service about the suspicious person, and the images were eventually relayed to the command center.
The texts reveal that authorities were aware of the suspicious person close to 100 minutes before the shooting, not the 60 minutes previously mentioned in a congressional hearing.
This has led to complaints from members of Trump’s Secret Service detail, who claim they were not informed of the local police tracking the individual.
The shooting left Trump with a bullet grazing his ear and three rallygoers shot, including Corey Comperatore, who tragically lost his life while shielding his family. Crooks was swiftly taken down by a Secret Service sniper.
Federal authorities have stated that Crooks had planned the shooting in advance, but his exact motive remains unclear.
The Secret Service has faced criticism in the aftermath of the incident, with lawmakers questioning how Crooks was able to pose a threat despite their presence. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down last week amidst the resulting outcry.