Newly revealed texts suggest Trump rally shooter was monitored by authorities over 90 min before attack

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA: Recent revelations have shed light on the timeline leading up to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

According to newly released text messages, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman, was under law enforcement's radar considerably earlier than previously reported. These messages provide a more precise timeline and underscore critical lapses in communication among the authorities.

Authorities noticed Thomas Crook's suspicious activities before shooting

Newly obtained text messages from the Beaver County Emergency Service Unit reveal that authorities were aware of Crooks' suspicious activities approximately 90 minutes before he fired at Trump, a discrepancy from the earlier assertion of 60 minutes.

The New York Times reports that these texts outline a clearer sequence of events leading up to the shooting, which injured two people and killed one.

A counter-sniper from the Beaver County Emergency Service Unit sent a message at around 4:26 pm, indicating that a suspicious individual, later identified as Crooks, had followed their lead and parked near their vehicles. The message read: “Someone followed our lead and snuck in and parked by our cars just so you know.”

The counter-sniper further noted, “I’m just letting you know because you see me go out with my rifle and put it in my car so he knows you guys are up there sitting to the direct right on a picnic table about 50 yards from the exit.”

By approximately 5:10 pm, Crooks was observed below the counter-snipers who were stationed inside the AGR International building. He later climbed onto the roof of this building and began preparing to shoot. At around 5:38 pm, one of the counter-snipers captured and shared photos of Crooks in a group chat, marking a critical point in tracking the suspect.

Further communication revealed concerns about Crooks' actions. An officer texted about Crooks’ suspicious behavior: “Kid learning around the building we are in. AGR I believe it is. I did see him with a range finder looking towards stage [sic]. FYI. If you wanna notify SS snipers to look out. I lost sight of him.”

Another message from an officer instructed, “Call it in to command and have a uniform check it out.”

These messages indicate that the photos of Crooks and details about his equipment were relayed to the Secret Service through the command center, but there seems to have been some kind of failure in timely communication and response.

Miscommunication between Secret Service and local police

Around 6:00 pm, as Crooks was positioned on the roof, he opened fire, grazing Trump's ear and injuring two other rallygoers, one of whom, Corey Comperatore, was killed while shielding his family. The shooting resulted in Crooks being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper shortly after the attack.

The newly released texts reveal that law enforcement had been aware of Crooks for almost 100 minutes before the shooting, contrary to earlier claims of 60 minutes.

Some reports claim that Trump’s Secret Service detail had not been informed about the local police’s tracking of the suspicious individual, contributing to the confusion and delay in response. According to the Washington Post, members of Trump's Secret Service detail complained about the lack of communication from local authorities.

The aftermath of the shooting saw confusion among local police as they attempted to understand how Crooks had managed to execute his plan.

A conversation captured on a body-worn camera revealed local officers expressing disbelief and confusion: “So, on TV, they’re saying Trump was shot at, and he got hit, but I don’t believe that,” one officer said. As they approached the warehouse where Crooks' body was found, another officer remarked, “I’m trying to figure out how this guy got here.”

Crooks had meticulously planned his attack, including using a drone to survey the rally site and researching assassination techniques. He positioned himself on a roof approximately 400 feet from Trump, a location that had not been covered by the Secret Service, despite the presence of counter-snipers, the Times reported.

The unprecedented lapse in security measures has led to outrage against the Secret Service, culminating in the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle amid ongoing scrutiny.