Crooks left the motorcycle in plain sight before climbing into position and firing a burst that killed a local hero, who was protecting his family, ripped off Trump’s ear and wounded two other people.
A witness first spotted the motorcycle around 5:30 p. m. July 13, about 42 minutes before the shooting, according to The Post. This security misstep led at least one expert to think that “someone was sleeping on the switch. “
FOLLOW LIVE THE DETAILS OF THE MURDER ATTEMPT
Thomas Matthew Crooks rode his bike at Donald Trump’s rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, police resources told the New York Post. (The New York Post)
Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and attorney who has been involved in several multi-agency security coordination efforts throughout his career, said a “flying squad” stopped Crooks long before he pressed the trigger.
A “flying squadron,” which can read names, is a mobile, autonomous reaction team that acts as roaming surveillance and tracks anything suspicious.
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The criminals were first known as a “suspicious user of interest” around 5:10 p. m. The FBI told Congress, according to a lawmaker who attended the FBI briefing Wednesday and spoke to Fox News Digital under the guise of anonymity.
At 17:30, a witness Crooks with a rangefinder. Other participants in the demonstration reported Crooks’ suspicious movements to the police.
But law enforcement officials on duty abandon their posts, in case the suspicious user or object is aimed at a distraction, Mauro explained. That’s why there’s a separate team.
The bicycle believed to belong to Thomas Matthew Crooks, who nearly assassinated former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, was abandoned at the scene of the crime, the New York Post reported. (The New York Post)
Thomas Matthew Crooks crawling across a rooftop moments before attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. (DJ Laugh (background))
“A lot of people are asking, ‘Why didn’t they chase them an hour before the event?’When you’re so close to the time of the event, you have to be alert to avoid any detours,” Mauro said on Fox News. Digital.
“Someone set out to create a distraction and now the director is unattended. “
In this case, it would have been Trump.
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“So I intend to remain in his position. The way to alleviate that rigidity is to have a flying squadron,” he said. “They’ll get reports that x, y, z has been detected and send a flying squadron there immediately.
“And if you’re worried about him an hour before the event, be sure to check him. . . but someone was sleeping on the soft switch. “
Former President Trump after a failed assassination attempt. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Blood is seen in the stands after guns were fired at Republican candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
At 5:52 p. m. , the Secret Service delinquent on the roof, the FBI told Congress, according to a lawmaker.
Twenty minutes later – 6:12 p. m. – The criminals fired several shots into the crowd.
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A bullet hit Trump’s ear and would have killed him if Trump had not moved his head at that very moment.
A beloved former fire chief, Corey Comperatore, was killed while protecting his wife and daughters from a hail of bullets, and two other men were seriously injured.
Crooks was finally shot after about 30 seconds of gunfire.
Authorities are chasing the suspected shooter from where he fell after the US Secret Service returned fire following an obvious assassination of former President Donald Trump. (Obtained via Fox News Digital)
Republican presidential candidate and former United States President Donald Trump touches the mantle of former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Corey Comperatore on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Forum Fiserv in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (REUTERS/Jeenah Luna)
Nearly a week after the shooting, many questions remain unanswered, including how Crooks slipped away and allowed the crowd to be shot so many times.
There have been obvious shortcomings in the development of plans and/or execution of a security plan that they want to address, members of Congress told Fox News Digital.
WATCH: POLICE SEARCH FOR EXPLOSIVES IN CROOKS’ VAN
The criminals allegedly drove the motorcycle to the park, resources told The New York Post, but also connected it to a white van that police resources said contained explosive materials.
But what he used and when is a mystery.
Authorities reported having located the car of Trump’s possible assassin near the rally in Pennsylvania, with explosives inside. (Fox News)
The Butler Farm Show, site of a crusade for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, is seen Monday, July 15, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was injured on July 13 in an assassination attempt while speaking at the rally. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Butler Township police referred questions to the FBI, Secret Service and Pennsylvania State Police.
The FBI had no comment, and the Secret Service and state police responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
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This perpetuates the police radio silence since Saturday’s murder.
A witness first saw the bike, still held by a backpack, around 5:30 p. m. on July 13, 42 minutes before the shooting, according to The Post.
Chris Eberhart is an American crime reporter for Fox News Digital. Email chris. eberhart@fox. com or on Twitter @ChrisEberhart48.
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