AN ex-FBI Special Agent says officers made a major error that allowed Donald Trump’s would-be killer to shoot at the president.
Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service snipers shortly after opening fire at the former president during a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The attempted assassination is the first close shave for the Secret Service in 43 years, after Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Former FBI Special Agent Bobby Chacon said the Secret Service oversaw a “major security planning lapse” in allowing Crooks the space to shoot at Trump.
The once-counter terror specialist said he was surprised that rooftop hadn’t been locked down.
He said: “The rooftop was the closest high ground point with direct line of sight to the stage on which Trump was speaking.
“I think there was an error in planning and it would not have taken much resources or manpower to secure that rooftop”.
Chacon said that once they realised the shooter was there, the Secret Service did respond well.
“The US Secret Service Agents present yesterday did a great job once the shots rang out, they got to Trump quickly, covered him and rushed him off stage safely.
“The Secret Service counter sniper engaged the gunman almost immediately and killed him quickly.”
Chacon added: “I do expect some increases in security at political rallies.
“I think the Secret Service will evaluate the mistakes made yesterday and make the proper adjustments immediately and I think some of those adjustments will be extending perimeters, adding security personnel on rooftops, additional screening of attendees.”
Other security experts have also slammed the Secret Service for letting Crooks get the shots off.
Jim Cavanaugh, a former Secret Service agent, told NBC News he was surprised that the shooter was able to occupy a viewpoint within shooting range of the rally.
He said: “Whenever I’ve been with them, every single high ground is taken by them or the local SWAT police… there’s nobody allowed walking on rooftops. They command the high ground.
“Having been on Secret Service details, it’s amazing to me that somebody was on an elevated position that they didn’t know about.”
Steve Nottingham, a former SWAT commander, said Saturday’s shooting was “a fundamental security failure.”
Nottingham said the Secret Service had failed in its pre-event scouting of the area and real-time monitoring of places where a gunman could be.
He said: “They were behind the curve, because they should have had those places covered ahead of time.”
One witness said that he’d seen a man with a rifle on the roof of a nearby building firing shots at the Trump rally.
“We noticed a guy crawling, you know army, bear crawling up the roof of the building 50ft away from us,” he said.
“So we are standing there pointing at the guy crawling up the roof, he had a rifle, we could clearly see he had a rifle.”
What we know so far:
Speaking to the BBC, he added: “I’m standing there pointing at him for two-three minutes, the secret service is looking at us from the top of the barn – I’m pointing at that roof.
“And next thing you know – five shots rang out.”
He confirmed that the shooter was up on the roof for three to four minutes before opening fire.
The FBI is investigating whether the shooting was an act of terrorism, with Crooks’ phone being taken to the agency’s lab in Quantico, Virginia.
Crooks reportedly used an AR-style rifle to fire six to eight bullets at the president, CBS News reported.
There were also bomb-making materials found at his home during an investigation.
One local cop climbed on top of the roof during the shooting and saw Crooks, who then pointed his rifle at the officer, per the Associated Press.
The officer quickly backed down the ladder and the gunman then shot toward Trump, according to the outlet.
President Biden has also ordered an independent review of security at the rally and has directed the Secret Service to examine measures for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.
DONALD Trump was shot at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
1pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5pm.
4:11pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:30pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
6:03pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:11pm: Gunshots were fired as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe.
7:24pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials.
8:42pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured.
