Butler, Pennsylvania – Graphic bodycam footage released by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley reveals the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The video shows local law enforcement and a Secret Service agent standing over the body of the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed after firing shots at Trump from a distance of over 400 feet. The footage was obtained via congressional request and captured by the body camera of a Beaver County Emergency Services Unit officer.
In the video, multiple local law enforcement officers and a Secret Service agent are seen on the roof from where the shots were fired at Trump. The body of the gunman can be seen on the roof beside them, with a trail of blood. An unnamed Secret Service agent in the video confirms that the deceased gunman matches the description of the suspicious person in photos disseminated prior to the shooting.
The video also reveals details about the events leading up to the assassination attempt. A local law enforcement officer had informed CBS News that a sniper from a local tactical team had snapped a picture of the gunman minutes before he attacked Trump. Additionally, it is disclosed in the video that people who filmed the gunman with their phones were detained for questioning.
During testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned her post the following day, alleged that law enforcement teams were sent to identify and interview Crooks after he was deemed suspicious. Three sources familiar with a law enforcement briefing stated that the Secret Service was notified of a suspicious person with a rangefinder on the ground just before the shooting occurred.
The video also sheds light on the immediate response to the shooting, with attendees attempting to alert officers about the shooter before he opened fire on Trump. It is revealed that the gunman was able to fire eight rounds in under six seconds before being fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper. Overall, the footage provides valuable insights into the tragic events that unfolded during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.