A former U.S. Secret Service agent disclosed this week that Thomas Matthew Crooks displayed concerning “pre-attack behavior” prior to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
During an appearance on CNN’s News Central on Wednesday, ex-Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow discussed the recent assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former president was shot in the ear. According to a CNN report, Crooks managed to enter the rally with a rangefinder, as confirmed by law enforcement sources.
“Hunters in the area may carry rangefinders, but bringing one to a political rally is unusual. It should have raised immediate red flags, prompting surveillance and a field interview by a protective intelligence team for assessment,” Wackrow emphasized.
Wackrow further expressed, “Based on our findings, this individual exhibited classic pre-attack behavior, attempting to assess distances and potential vulnerabilities at the site.”
Identified as the 20-year-old perpetrator, Crooks fired at the former president during the campaign rally, injuring his ear in an assassination attempt. The Secret Service was forced to neutralize Crooks, who had climbed onto a roof around 450 feet away with a .22-equipped AR-style rifle, resulting in the death of one rally attendee and critical injuries to two others.
The incident has triggered inquiries into how a 20-year-old gunman could infiltrate the security perimeter and endanger a prominent political figure. In response, U.S. President Joe Biden instructed Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to reassess security measures for the upcoming Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to attend, along with a review of the rally shooting security.
Cheatle conveyed in a statement, “I extend my sincerest condolences to Corey Comperatore’s loved ones, who tragically lost their life during the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have been closely engaged with Secret Service personnel in Pennsylvania for maintaining the crime scene integrity until the FBI took over as the lead investigating authority. Additionally, I have briefed President Biden on the incident details and coordinated with the protective team for former President Trump.”
