Butler, Pennsylvania – Two officials familiar with the investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump revealed that local law enforcement officer Thomas Matthew Crooks paused shooting after a SWAT team member returned fire. Crooks did not shoot again before being killed by a Secret Service countersniper. The shot from the local officer caused Crooks to temporarily recoil from his perch on a rooftop, coinciding with a 10-second pause in shooting that ended with the Secret Service countsniper’s fatal shot.
According to audio experts and a Washington Post analysis of video evidence, the local officer’s shot played a critical role in interrupting Crooks’ attack at a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania. The district attorney for Butler County, Richard Goldinger, confirmed that a member of the county’s Emergency Services Unit fired a shot at Crooks, prompting a reaction from the gunman.
Despite uncertainty about whether the local officer’s shot hit Crooks, it was acknowledged that the officer’s actions caused Crooks to cease fire and expose himself. Witnesses reported seeing Crooks move after the shot was fired, leading to his eventual defeat by the Secret Service countersniper.
Video footage captured the dramatic events as they unfolded, showing Crooks firing shots from a rooftop before being incapacitated by a sequence of gunfire from the local officer and the Secret Service. In the aftermath, evidence revealed that Crooks was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and that multiple shots were exchanged during the violent encounter.
FBI officials confirmed that the local officer’s weapon, as well as Crooks’ and the Secret Service countersniper’s firearms, were taken for further analysis. The Secret Service countersniper was ultimately determined to have fired the shot that ended Crooks’ life, as shown in video recordings of the incident.
The account provided by the local law enforcement official and supported by video evidence highlights the chaotic and intense nature of the altercation. The actions of the local officer were instrumental in disrupting Crooks’ attack, preventing further harm and potentially more catastrophic consequences at the rally site.
As investigations continue into the events leading up to the assassination attempt, details emerge about the swift and decisive actions taken by law enforcement officers to neutralize the threat. Witnesses and video recordings offer valuable insights into the sequence of events that unfolded during the harrowing incident, shedding light on the bravery and quick thinking of those involved in the response.