Newly released footage reveals former President Donald Trump’s would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, casually strolling around the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, just two hours before his botched assassination attempt from a nearby rooftop. The footage shows Crooks mingling in an area with vendors selling Trump merchandise, looking like just another rally-goer.
The video was recorded by an employee of Iron Clad USA, a clothing company, at approximately 4:26 p.m. that day. Interestingly, during this time, a local police officer had already sent a text to his colleagues, alerting them that he had spotted a man—believed to be Crooks—sitting at a picnic table nearby. Despite this, Crooks’ presence went seemingly unnoticed by authorities who were tasked with securing the area.
Crooks, who was wearing a gray Demolition Ranch t-shirt and white shorts, didn’t exactly blend into the background. Yet, as the footage shows, he was able to roam freely, passing by security without raising any immediate alarms. Later, authorities would discover Crooks’ backpack, bike, and a rangefinder at the Butler Farm Show grounds—items that should have been clear red flags.
What’s even more unsettling is that both the Secret Service and local law enforcement reportedly saw Crooks multiple times before the shooting occurred but failed to take any action. Snipers stationed in the area sent texts around the same time the footage was captured, indicating they believed Crooks was in a different location.
James Woods, a sniper from Beaver County, texted his colleagues after spotting someone at a picnic table about 50 yards from the exit. He mentioned seeing someone sneaking in and parking near their cars after he had finished his shift. “Just so you know, someone followed our lead and parked by our cars,” Woods texted, all while Crooks was presumably wandering around the rally unnoticed.
The fact that Crooks was able to get so close, unnoticed for such a long period, raises serious questions about the security protocols in place that day. It also leaves many wondering how a man with such malicious intent was able to slip through the cracks until it was nearly too late.
NEW: Newly uncovered footage appears to show would-be Trump assas*in Thomas Crooks spending his last hours on Earth walking around the Butler, PA rally location.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 20, 2024
It appears that the original video came from a small business owner who was selling patriotic hats before the rally.… pic.twitter.com/ogFiUZ5Dhn
