Trump Shooting: Drone Video of Butler Grounds, Site Of Attempted Assassination

Trump Shooting: Drone Video of Butler Grounds, Site Of Attempted Assassination

On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots at a Trump rally from an elevated position in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack resulted in Former U.S. president Donald Trump sustaining an injury to his right ear. 

The incident occurred at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, located roughly 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, and TheColumbusDispatch has provided drone footage of the scene.

The shooter fired from the roof of a nearby building that was outside the rally venue, and has identified by the FBI.

Crooks and a rally attendee were killed in the incident, with two others critically injured.

Meanwhile, questions continue to mount regarding the actions of the Secret Service on this fateful day that took America to the edge - from actions of the security agents on the ground, equipment like police surveillance drones and other gear used to monitor such crowded events, all through to communication between agencies when citizens report an issue. Witnesses who had seen the gunman crawl on top of the building had pointed him out to the police in the area minutes before the shooting happened, but they likely couldn't see him because of the sloped nature of the roof.

Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for this year's presidential election, and the shooting happed two days before the 2024 Republican National Convention, set to take place from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Update: Monday, 15th July: Donald Trump has obtained enough votes to become the official Republican presidential nominee; GOP formally nominates Ohio Sen. JD Vance as vice-presidential candidate

President Biden condemned acts of political violence. Making his remarks from the White House, he reiterated that differences should be resolved at the ballot box.

The fallen victim was identified as Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, who died shielding his family from the bullets. The other victims of the shooting are David Dutch (57) of New Kensington, PA, and James Copenhaver (74) of Moon Township PA, who are now in stable condition.

 

4 Acts Against Donald Trump’s Life 

The Pennsylvania rally shooting wasn't the first time there has been an attempt made. Previous acts of violence against Trump include:

1. 2016 Las Vegas Rally 

On June 18, 2016, during a rally in Las Vegas, Michael Steven Sandford, a British national, attempted to seize a firearm from a police officer to shoot Trump. Sandford was quickly apprehended and later expressed intentions to die in the attempt. He was sentenced to a year in prison and was deported after serving his sentence. His mental health issues were acknowledged during the legal proceedings.

2. 2017 Forklift Incident

On September 6, 2017, in Mandan, North Dakota, Gregory Lee Leingang stole a forklift in an attempt to attack Trump's motorcade. His plan was to flip the presidential limousine. The attempt failed when the forklift became jammed, and Leingang was arrested. He later admitted his intent to kill the president and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

3. 2018 Ricin Letters

William Clyde Allen III sent ricin-laced letters to Trump and the Pentagon on October 1, 2018. The poisonous letters were intercepted before reaching their destinations. Allen, a Navy veteran from Utah, was arrested and charged with mailing a threat against the president among other charges​.

4. 2020 Ricin Attempt

In a similar ricin-related incident, Canadian citizen Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier was arrested on September 20, 2020, while trying to cross from Buffalo, New York to Canada. She had sent a ricin-laced letter to Trump calling him an "ugly tyrant clown" and suggesting he drop out of the 2020 presidential election. Ferrier faced multiple charges and was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison in 2023​

 

The shooting incident is bound to be monumental moment in America's history. We've compiled some of the frequently asked questions about it to give you a quick overview, based on news reports on the attack:

• When did the attempted assassination of Donald Trump occur?

The attempted assassination occurred on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at approximately 6:11 p.m,[1] during a campaign rally at Butler Farm Show Grounds in Connoquenessing Township, near Butler, Pennsylvania.

• Who was the perpetrator behind the Trump shooting incident?

FBI identified assailant was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[2] He had a job as a dietary aide in the kitchen at a local nursing home, Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation[7]. He was a recent graduate of the Community College of Allegheny County, having completed his studies just two months before the incident, and didn’t have a criminal record. Thomas was also part of the Clairton Sportsmen's Club in Pennsylvania, where he was a member. The club has a 200-yard rifle range.[3]

• What weapon was used in the shooting of Donald Trump?

Crooks used an AR-15–style rifle to carry out the shooting, which had been legally bought by his father​, Matthew Crooks. Late that Saturday night, when CNN reached out to the father, he expressed his confusion about the situation, saying he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on”, and that he would first talk to the police before making any further comments about his son.

• Did Crooks use a drone when planning the attack?

Crooks flew a drone some 200 yards from the stage, around two hours before the rally - according to what FBI Director Mr  Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary committee [8].  The drone's camera was active for approximately 11 minutes, capturing footage that provided a view of the area behind his planned firing position. 

• How did Donald Trump respond immediately following the assassination attempt?

After the attack, Trump was seen visibly wounded but managed to utter or mouth “Fight! Fight! Fight! showing his resilience, and the crowd responded with “U-S-A!” chants. He was quickly secured by Secret Service agents and taken to Butler Memorial Hospital, 11 miles away from the scene, and discharged a couple of hours later, in stable condition.[4]

• What was President Joe Biden's immediate response?

President Joe Biden described the assassination attempt as "sick" and emphasized that there is no place for such violence in America​.[5]

• Did the director of the Secret Service face any consequences?

Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service, resigned due to the widespread criticism over the handling of security at the event. [6]

 

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