In the aftermath of the shocking July 13 shooting targeting former President Donald Trump, new revelations and insights have surfaced, painting a clearer picture of the events leading up to the attack. The Beaver County SWAT team, present at the scene, has publicly acknowledged critical communication failures and the failure to act on early warnings. Meanwhile, newly obtained text messages reveal that the would-be gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was spotted over 90 minutes before the shooting began.
SWAT Team Members Speak Out
Members of the Beaver County SWAT team have broken their silence, sharing their experiences and regrets about the tragic incident:
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Mike Priolo of the Beaver County SWAT team spoke to ABC’s “Good Morning America,” expressing a deep sense of failure. He reflected on the day’s events, stating, “We just became part of history. And not in a good way.”
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Jason Woods, team leader for Beaver County’s Emergency Services Unit, highlighted a crucial lapse: “We were supposed to meet with the Secret Service before the event. That meeting never happened.”
The team’s comments underscore a significant breakdown in coordination with federal agencies responsible for security.
Text Messages Reveal Early Warning
ABC News has obtained text messages that provide new insights into the timeline of the shooting:
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Thomas Matthew Crooks was seen sitting at a picnic table about 50 yards from the exit where the shooting would later occur. The sniper team member who spotted him, Gregory Nicol, noted suspicious behaviour and took Crooks’ picture.
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Nicol’s text messages indicated that Crooks appeared to be using a rangefinder and was “looking up and down the building,” behaviour deemed out of place.
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These observations were reported more than 90 minutes before Crooks opened fire, contradicting earlier reports that suggested a shorter warning period.
The Shooting and Immediate Response
The tragic sequence of events unfolded as follows:
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Crooks began his attack shortly after 6 p.m., resulting in the death of Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee, and critically injuring two other individuals, including Trump himself.
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A Secret Service sniper, positioned on a nearby roof, fatally shot Crooks, ending the immediate threat.
Communication Failures with the Secret Service
The SWAT team’s lack of coordination with the Secret Service highlights several critical issues:
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Failed Coordination: The anticipated meeting between the SWAT team and the Secret Service did not take place. This failure in communication was a pivotal moment, leading to a lack of real-time information sharing.
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Post-Shooting Realisations: The SWAT team only realised the gravity of their communication failures after the shooting had occurred, exacerbating their feelings of regret and responsibility.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has since resigned, taking responsibility for the security lapses that contributed to the tragic outcome.
Trump’s Cooperation with the Investigation
Former President Trump has agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation:
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Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, confirmed that Trump would sit for a standard victim interview. The FBI seeks to gather Trump’s perspective on the incident.
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FBI officials have yet to determine a motive for Crooks, but they have uncovered online searches related to mass shootings, improvised explosive devices, and an assassination attempt on the Slovakian prime minister.
Implications and Next Steps
The revelations from the SWAT team and the newly uncovered text messages underscore several key points:
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Need for Improved Coordination: The incident highlights the critical need for effective communication and coordination between local law enforcement and federal agencies during high-risk events.
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Future Security Measures: The investigation will likely lead to a reevaluation of security protocols and procedures to prevent similar failures in the future.
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Public and Official Reactions: The public and officials will be watching closely as the investigation unfolds and as new measures are proposed to enhance security at high-profile events.
Photo credit: ABC News
