Trump gunman Thomas Crooks was spotted on the roof a building with a clear sightline to the former president nearly 30 minutes before he opened fire — but they failed to confront him, according to a report.
Crooks was seen at least twice by members of the emergency services unit team from Beaver County 26 minutes before he rained bullets on the Pennsylvania rally crowd, wounding former President Trump and two others and killing an ex-fire chief.
According to WPXI sources, the Beaver County cops noticed a suspicious man on the roof and took a picture of him and reported it around 5:45 p.m. The man in the photo was later determined to be Crooks. It was not immediately known if he had his rifle in the photo.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, was described by former schoolmates as a loner without many friends. AFP via Getty ImagesAnother source told the outlet that a law enforcement officer spied Crooks on the rally grounds and called it in as a suspicious person, the officer including his own photo with the report.
About 26 minutes after the ESU member’s photo was presented to law enforcement, Crooks opened fire from the building’s rooftop before being killed seconds later by a Secret Service sniper.
Everything we know about the Trump assassination attempt
- 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
- Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
- The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
- Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
- Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
- Trump exclusively recounted surviving the “surreal” assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
- High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act.”
Much speculation has arisen about Crooks’ political affiliation. He’s registered as a Republican in the state of Pennsylvania, but made a donation to a Democrat-affiliated PAC in 2021. AFP via Getty Images
Crooks’ lifeless body was found on the roof of a manufacturing plant building about 130 yards away from the rally stage where Trump was speaking. He was shot and killed by the Secret Service. Obtained by NY PostThis is a developing story. Check back for updates.
