Security Failure at Trump Rally: How a Gunman Got Close Enough to Injure Former President
Investigation Underway
The United States Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The incident has raised serious concerns about the agency’s security measures and how a gunman was able to breach the perimeter.
The Shooter
The FBI has identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed by Secret Service personnel after firing multiple shots at the stage from an "elevated position outside of the rally venue."
Security Failures
An Associated Press analysis of videos and photos taken at the rally shows that the shooter was able to get astonishingly close to the stage where Trump was speaking. The roof of the manufacturing plant where Crooks was positioned was fewer than 150 meters (164 yards) from the stage, a distance that is easily within range of a decent marksman.
Review of Security Measures
President Joe Biden has directed an independent review of the security at the rally and has also directed the U.S. Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee. The Secret Service’s coordinator for the convention, Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, said the agency is satisfied with its comprehensive planning for the event.
Calls for Investigation
Representatives from both parties have called for an investigation into the shooting. Rep. Mark Green, a Tennessee Republican who chairs the House Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas raising questions about the shooting and demanding information about the former president’s Secret Service protection.
Security Expert Analysis
Former top Secret Service agents told The AP that Crooks should never have been allowed to gain access to the roof, and the agency will have to figure out how that happened. They said such a lapse could have been caused by officers neglecting their posts or a flaw in the event’s security plan.
Conclusion
The incident at the Trump rally has raised serious concerns about the security measures in place for political events. The investigation is ongoing, and it is essential that the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies take a thorough and transparent approach to determining how this security failure occurred.
FAQs
Q: What happened at the Trump rally?
A: A gunman armed with an AR-style rifle fired multiple shots at the stage where former President Donald Trump was speaking, injuring the former president.
Q: Who is the shooter?
A: The FBI has identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Q: How did the shooter get close enough to the stage?
A: An Associated Press analysis of videos and photos taken at the rally shows that the shooter was able to get astonishingly close to the stage, just 150 meters (164 yards) from the stage.
Q: What is being done to investigate the shooting?
A: The FBI is leading the investigation, working with the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement. President Joe Biden has directed an independent review of the security at the rally and has also directed the U.S. Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention.
Q: What is the Secret Service doing to improve security measures?
A: The Secret Service is reviewing all security measures for the Republican National Convention and has promised to take a thorough and transparent approach to determining how this security failure occurred.
Author: fortune.com
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