Snipers present at the Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania captured photos of the would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, before the shooting. Unfortunately, the attack took place before the Secret Service could intervene.
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Recently released body cam footage taken after the shooting revealed the snipers having a conversation with a Secret Service agent next to Crooks’ lifeless body. During the discussion, snipers mentioned that they had taken photos of Crooks and circulated them to authorities during the rally. The footage shows his visible AR-style rifle on the rooftop where he positioned himself to shoot at former President Donald Trump. Although the snipers captured photos of Crooks, they ultimately lost track of him, TMZ reported.
In the aftermath of the incident, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday. Her resignation followed scrutiny on Capitol Hill over security features at the rally, which resulted in the death of one attendee. President Joe Biden released a statement amid her resignation and thanked Cheatle for her service.
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“Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service. We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our Administration and we are grateful.”
The latest release of the bodycam footage has raised more concerns and questions about the Secret Service’s security measures.