A police sniper’s quick reaction during an assassination attempt at Donald Trump’s election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month possibly saved many lives. According to a preliminary report from Congressman Clay Higgins, the sniper’s bullet struck the gunman’s rifle, temporarily damaging it and also breaking his aim.
On July 13, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a would-be assassin, fired eight shots from the roof of a warehouse, wounding the former US president and several others in the crowd and killing one person. However, an accurate shot from a Butler SWAT operator prevented further damage, The Guardian reported.
The local law enforcement officer reportedly “sprinted toward the danger”, firing from 100 yards away and knocking out the gunman’s rifle with “a single shot”, temporarily knocking him off balance.
“The 9th bullet at J13 was fired by the Butler SWAT operator from the ground approximately 100 yards from the AGR building (where the gunman was stationed). The 9th bullet struck Crooks’ rifle stock and fractured his face/neck/right shoulder causing the stock to shatter,” the report said.
The report describes the SWAT operator as “absolutely alarmed,” and states that “when he observed shooter Crooks as a target hidden by foliage on the roof of the AGR, he immediately left his assigned position and ran toward the threat, moving into a clear shot position directly in the line of fire while Crooks was firing 8 rounds.”
Crooks was wounded by fragments from the damaged rifle and was later shot down by a federal sniper as he tried to get back up. Another Secret Service sniper fired the “10th and final bullet,” which struck the gunman in the head and ended the threat, the report said.
New records obtained by ABC News show that local officials were in discussions about the security of the rally, including a request for additional assistance. The Secret Service moved officers from President Biden’s security team to President Trump’s security team after Biden dropped out of the election race. The director of the Secret Service resigned after facing criticism for the agency’s response to the shooting. The FBI is investigating the security failure, and Congress has launched an investigation.
Following the incident, Donald Trump’s campaign team has announced plans to strengthen security protocols at future outdoor rallies, including installing bulletproof glass around stages. The former president did not have protection during his rally in Butler on July 13, when Crooks’ bullet nearly grazed his head.
