New details have emerged regarding the tense moments before Thomas Crooks aimed his rifle at former President Donald Trump during a rally, shedding light on law enforcement’s response.
According to the Associated Press, a local police officer came close to engaging with Crooks, who had positioned himself on a nearby building’s roof overlooking the rally venue. Rally attendees alerted officers to the suspicious activity, prompting the officer to approach Crooks. However, the situation quickly escalated when Crooks turned his firearm towards the officer, forcing a retreat.
“One officer climbed to the roof and encountered Crooks, who pointed his rifle at the officer. The officer retreated down the ladder and Crooks quickly took a shot toward former President Donald Trump, and that’s when the U.S. Secret Service counter snipers shot him, said the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation,” the report states.
Crooks was registered as a Republican, but questions surrounding his motives persist, with officials yet to establish a clear rationale for his actions. Authorities identified Crooks through DNA analysis, as he did not possess any identification at the time of the incident, according to authorities.
