According to information obtained by Fox News, local police were responsible for policing the building where suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks fired multiple shots at former President Trump on Saturday.
The building where Crooks opened fire was a “staging area” for one of the local anti-sniper units, according to a federal law enforcement official familiar with the security planning.
Sources also said that teams were in fact stationed in or near buildings.Four anti-sniper teams were deployed to the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, including two from the Secret Service and two from local police.
The source added that the Butler County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of its officers climbed onto the roof and backed away when he saw Crooks holding a rifle. Moments later, Crooks began firing, the source said. A few minutes later, a Secret Service counter sniper opened fire on Crooks, killing him.
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Former President Trump, who was shot and killed at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, was surrounded by Secret Service agents and raised his fist. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment.
Shortly after Trump began speaking at the rally on Saturday evening, a gunman, later identified as Crooks, fired multiple shots toward the stage.
Authorities approached the scene where a suspected shooter, later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fell after Secret Service forces returned fire in what appeared to be an assassination attempt on former President Trump. (Source: Fox News Digital)
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As Secret Service agents swarmed the stage and surrounded the former president, Trump collapsed to the floor, before a bloody Trump rose to his feet minutes later, fists raised, and was escorted off the stage by agents.
On Saturday, gunfire erupted while President Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and police snipers returned fire. (AP Photo/Jean J. Puskar)
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At least one rally participant was killed and two spectators were seriously injured, according to authorities. The man who died was identified as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in the area.
