The Butler Township manager, Thomas Knights, has come to the defense of local police officers following the assassination attempt against former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Knights stated that there is a misconception about the overall response and that the officers did what their training taught them to do.
The incident left one volunteer firefighter dead and two others critically wounded. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was able to access the roof of a nearby building and fire shots at Trump before being apprehended by law enforcement.
The FBI has been conducting interviews with members of local law enforcement agencies to gather more information about the events leading up to the shooting. Knights explained that officers responded to reports of a suspicious person on the roof and attempted to apprehend him before shots were fired.
Despite criticism from the public, Knights believes that the local officers’ response minimized the overall situation as best as possible. He hopes that once the full investigation is complete, those quick to criticize will understand the challenges faced by law enforcement in such situations.
The incident has sparked a debate about security measures at political events and the role of law enforcement in protecting public figures. The full report on the assassination attempt is expected to shed more light on the events of that day.
