Butler County officials have released 911 calls from the day a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The calls shed light on the chaotic scene that unfolded during the rally.
One call came from the wife of a 74-year-old shooting victim from Moon Township, reporting that her husband was critically wounded at the rally. She expressed confusion about which hospital he was taken to, highlighting the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Other 911 calls revealed the panic and urgency as attendees reported gunshots at the Trump rally. Callers requested immediate assistance, with one woman checking on her mother who was present at the event. Dispatchers assured callers that help was on the way.
Further investigation into the incident uncovered details about the gunman, Thomas Crooks, who accessed the roof of a nearby building overlooking the rally. A sniper had earlier spotted Crooks behaving suspiciously near the rally site, prompting law enforcement to take action.
Law enforcement officers identified Crooks as the shooter and neutralized him after he fired multiple shots towards the rally. The Secret Service counter sniper ultimately fired the fatal shot that stopped Crooks from posing a threat to the former president.
It was revealed that Crooks had been at the rally site for an extended period before the assassination attempt, flying a drone and parking his vehicle nearby. Investigators recovered casings on the roof where Crooks had positioned himself to carry out the attack.
The release of the 911 calls and subsequent investigation provide a clearer picture of the events surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Trump, underscoring the swift response of law enforcement in averting a potential tragedy.
