The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania has left many questioning how the shooter, Thomas Crooks, managed to get a DPMS AR-15 rifle onto the roof of the AGR building without being noticed. Two working theories have emerged, with one suggesting that Crooks hid the rifle near the AC unit he used to climb onto the roof, while the other proposes that he had it in his backpack along with a golf range finder.
Federal law enforcement sources have indicated that hiding the rifle in the backpack would require significant disassembly and reassembly, making it more likely that Crooks hid the rifle behind the AC unit. Despite reports that Crooks purchased a ladder and ammunition on the morning of the rally, no ladder was found on site, leading investigators to believe that he climbed onto the roof using the AC unit.
It has also been revealed that a sniper team from the Butler Township Emergency Services Unit was inside the building conducting overwatch during the event, unaware of Crooks’ presence on the roof above them. The Secret Service Counter Sniper who ultimately took down Crooks reportedly fired only one shot.
The investigation into the assassination attempt continues, shedding light on Crooks’ online search history which included topics such as depressive disorder, Trump, Biden, and the DNC. As more details emerge, the public is left wondering how such a dangerous situation was able to unfold without detection.
