The Secret Service has pointed to local Pennsylvania police for their failure to secure the area around the rally where Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Secret Service official Anthony Gugliemi stated that local police were responsible for securing the AGR International Inc. plant grounds, located about 130 yards from the rally, according to the New York Times.
Residents near the Butler Farm Show Grounds reported no contact from law enforcement before or after the rally. Valerie Fennell, who lives close to the fairgrounds, said, “Nobody contacted me. Nobody. Nobody called me, nobody stopped here,” expressing her surprise at the lack of communication.
During the rally, attendees noticed Crooks acting suspiciously near the metal detectors and alerted local police, who warned the Secret Service. However, Crooks managed to evade detection, carrying a rifle and jumping between rooftops before reaching the AGR facility.
At around 6:10 p.m., a local officer confronted Crooks on the AGR roof, but Crooks fired eight shots, injuring Trump in the ear, critically wounding two attendees, and killing Corey Comperatore. Secret Service snipers quickly responded, shooting Crooks.
The Secret Service noted that relying on local law enforcement for event security is a common practice. However, Pennsylvania police stressed that the Secret Service is ultimately in charge. “Secret Service always has the lead on securing something like this,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police.
In light of the incident, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has scheduled a hearing with Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle on July 22 to examine the security lapses that allowed Crooks to come close to assassinating Trump.
