In a recent turn of events, former President Trump had a close call with an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident transpired when a gunman armed with a rifle managed to secure a position on a nearby rooftop. This location had been previously flagged as a security concern by the Secret Service.

Key Points:

  • The rooftop, despite being recognized as a potential hazard, was not appropriately secured by the Secret Service.
  • A bullet just missed President Trump’s right ear, which he credits his survival to a timely head tilt.
  • The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, also harmed two attendees at the rally, fatally wounding one.
  • A local law enforcement officer engaged Crooks but was forced to retreat when threatened with the rifle.

President Trump revealed to his former White House physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson, that he had shifted his gaze to examine a chart on illegal immigration statistics just as the bullet skimmed past his ear. An observer recounted seeing the shooter ‘bear crawling’ up the roof and alerted police to the imminent threat several minutes before shots rang out. Regrettably, responding officers appeared unprepared and their response was delayed.

NBC News reported:

The rooftop where a gunman shot at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally was identified by the Secret Service as a potential vulnerability in the days before the event, two sources familiar with the agency’s operations told NBC News.

The building, owned by a glass research company, is adjacent to the Butler Farm Show, an outdoor venue in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service was aware of the risks associated with it, the sources said.

“Someone should have been on the roof or securing the building so no one could get on the roof,” said one of the sources, a former senior Secret Service agent who was familiar with the planning.

Understanding how the gunman got onto the roof — despite those concerns — is a central question for investigators scrutinizing how a lone attacker managed to shoot at Trump during Saturday’s campaign event.

Source: Steadfast Nation