New Bodycam Video Shows Moment Police Officer Saw Trump Shooter Just Before Assassination Attempt

Newly released body camera footage from Butler Township police officers has shed light on the harrowing moments leading up to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The footage, made public on Thursday, captures the intense and chaotic scene as law enforcement officers confronted the gunman just before he opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, when Trump was addressing a crowd at the Butler Farm Show. The rally, initially a jubilant event, quickly descended into chaos as shots rang out from a nearby rooftop. The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple rounds, grazing Trump in the ear and tragically killing one attendee while critically injuring two others. Crooks was subsequently shot and killed by Secret Service counter-snipers.

The bodycam footage provides a vivid account of the moments leading up to the shooting. In one segment, an officer is seen being lifted onto the roof of a building adjacent to the rally. As he peers over the edge, he suddenly retreats, sprinting towards his vehicle—a move that underscores the urgency and danger of the situation. Although the shooter is not visible in this particular clip, the officer later confirms the encounter, stating, "He was this close, dude, turned right around on me."

Further into the footage, the officer is heard expressing frustration over the lack of security measures at the site. He recalls having warned the Secret Service about the building's vulnerability four days prior to the rally. "I told them they need to post guys over here," he says, reflecting the tension and miscommunication that plagued the event's security preparations.

The Secret Service has been criticized for its handling of the incident, with questions arising about the adequacy of the security perimeter and the agency's response time. In a statement, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged the agency's shortcomings, stating, "The attempted assassination of former President Trump was a failure on the part of the US Secret Service, and we are assessing and updating our protective policies and procedures to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again."

The footage also captures the moments following the shooting, as officers rush to the rooftop where Crooks had fired from. The scene is one of confusion and urgency, with officers communicating over radio frequencies to coordinate their response. "He's got glasses, long hair," an officer describes Crooks, who was armed with an AR-style rifle.

The release of the bodycam footage has prompted an independent review of security measures at the rally, ordered by President Joe Biden. The FBI, alongside a bipartisan House committee, is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident to determine Crooks' motives and whether there were any lapses in security protocols.

The shooting has left a lasting impact on the community and the nation, highlighting the vulnerabilities in security at high-profile political events. As the investigation continues, there is a renewed call for unity and civility in political discourse, with many urging for a return to the values that define the United States.

In the aftermath of the incident, the head of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned, and the acting head has indicated that agents could face termination if found to have violated protocols. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in ensuring the safety of public figures and the need for constant vigilance and improvement in security measures.