A local police counter-sniper team was stationed inside the AGR International Inc. factory in Butler, Pennsylvania as a “watch post” for snipers to scan for threats during former President Donald Trump’s speech only 130 yards away. However, they were not on the roof at the time Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump. Crooks climbed on the roof of the building and fired eight shots with an AR-style assault rifle, grazing Trump in the ear, killing a Trump supporter, and wounding two others.
Law enforcement sources revealed that Crooks was spotted on the building 26 minutes before the shooting, with one cop even taking a photo of him. It was unclear whether any local officers were able to warn the Secret Service agents about the gunman. Several local police agencies were responsible for securing the area outside the Butler Farm Show grounds where the shooting occurred. The building was swept by cops before the event, and the local sniper team used it as a staging and lookout post but did not climb on the roof in fear of interfering with the Secret Service snipers.
Neighbors near the farm show grounds claimed they were not contacted by law enforcement for security measures in the days preceding the event, and the gates into the facility were merely zip-tied shut. The Pennsylvania State Police, who were charged with securing the AGR grounds, did not respond to requests for comment. The Secret Service ultimately has the lead in securing events with high-profile politicians like Trump, according to State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens. The Butler City Police mentioned that the AGR grounds were not under their jurisdiction.
During the rally, footage showed the Secret Service counter-sniper team trained their rifles on Crooks, who was eventually shot dead by the team. It is unclear if they had seen him before he fired at the former president. The Butler Township Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and Beaver County Emergency Services Unit did not respond to requests for comments. The AGR grounds were not under the jurisdiction of the Butler City Police. The incident raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures at high-profile events and collaboration between local police agencies and federal authorities during such events.
