Newly surfaced video footage has shed light on the events leading up to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The video, captured by a merchandise vendor named Joe Tomko, shows the assailant, Thomas Crooks, casually walking around the rally grounds approximately 90 minutes before the shooting took place.
In the video, taken at 4:26 p.m., Crooks can be seen mingling with other attendees near booths selling Trump memorabilia. He appears unarmed and nonchalant, wearing a grey T-shirt and shorts as he walks in the direction of the American Glass Research complex where the shooting would later occur.
This newly surfaced footage is considered the earliest known visual of Crooks on the day of the rally, providing a clearer image of the individual responsible for the violent act. Previous images of Crooks at the rally were grainy and taken from a distance, making this video a significant piece of evidence in understanding the events that transpired.
Following the release of the video, it was revealed that a local SWAT officer stationed in a building adjacent to where Crooks would later open fire had noticed him behaving suspiciously. The officer, Greg Nicol, observed Crooks sitting below a window with a rifle and later pointing a range finder towards the stage where Trump was scheduled to speak.
The video footage has raised questions about the breakdown in communication between law enforcement agencies, as it took over 15 minutes for authorities to locate Crooks after he was spotted by Nicol. This delay led to a frantic search for the assailant and is being viewed as a significant failure on the part of the Secret Service.
Joe Tomko, the vendor who captured the video, shared the footage with the FBI after realizing the importance of the visual evidence. The FBI has since declined to comment on the video, which has also been circulated on social media platforms.
The release of this video has provided valuable insights into the events leading up to the attempted assassination and has sparked discussions about security protocols at public events involving high-profile figures.
