Experts say poor communication between local and federal law enforcement led to the security failures resulting in the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old, managed to evade law enforcement for nearly 90 minutes and climbed onto a rooftop at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally site. He fired shots, hitting Trump in the ear, killing an audience member, and critically injuring two others.
Text messages showed local officers had shared information about Crooks among themselves before the shooting. However, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. testified at a Senate hearing that this information was not relayed to federal officers.
New York Times does detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, video, photos, and audio of shooting at Trump rally. They conclude Trump was most likely grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman, and not shrapnel or something else. pic.twitter.com/wTg87GXylc
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 26, 2024
Michael Verden, a former Secret Service agent and security firm founder, stated, “It seems like a clear communications failure. Strong, seamless communication is vital at such events.”
The communication breakdown was evident when text messages revealed local officers had flagged Crooks as suspicious 90 minutes before the shooting but failed to prevent his actions.
Verden emphasised the need for a joint command centre where state, local, and federal representatives could share real-time information. “Anybody with any authority at that rally needs to be able to talk to one another,” he said, noting Butler County and the Secret Service should have coordinated better.
Verden was surprised no one approached Crooks, who was near the American Glass Research building before the shooting. He highlighted the role of protective intelligence teams that typically include a Secret Service agent and a local officer to approach suspicious individuals. He suggested an inconsistency if such teams were absent at the rally.
Charles Marino, a former supervisory special agent for the Secret Service, described the events on July 13 as showing both the worst and best of the agency. He pointed out “a catastrophic failure of overall security planning and implementation,” exposing communication and coordination weaknesses, as well as limited resources.
Marino also praised the agents’ courage during the aftermath. He noted the agents shielded Trump with their bodies while the gunfire continued, showcasing the dedication and skill of the Secret Service.