Local police officer reportedly encountered alleged Trump shooter seconds before shots fired
A local police officer encountered former President Trump’s alleged shooter on Saturday, just moments before a bullet grazed the former president’s ear at the Pennsylvania rally, The Associated Press reported.
After attendees at the former president’s rally noticed a man climbing to the rooftop of a nearby building, they warned local law enforcement officials, the AP reported, citing two law enforcement officials who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
A law enforcement officer then climbed to the roof and encountered 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who the AP reported pointed his rifle at the police officer. When the officer climbed down the ladder, Crooks then “quickly took a shot toward” Trump, the AP reported.
At that moment, U.S. Secret Service counter snipers opened fire at Crooks, killing him, according to the AP.
Since Trump was shot on Saturday, questions about how the gunman was able to get into a position to take a shot at the former president have circulated among media pundits and officials.
The FBI said it was investigating the shooting as a possible act of domestic terrorism, but the motive of the suspected shooter remains unknown.
The FBI said it believes Crooks, who had bomb-making materials in the car he drove to the rally, acted alone. Investigators have found no threatening comments on social media accounts or ideological positions that could help explain what led him to target Trump, the AP reported.
The Associated Press contributed.