US - Shots fired at Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania as former president is seen with blood across his face, 13 July 2024

[margarita25]

Fortunately, he was a bad shot, and he missed.

JMVHO.

I wouldn’t say he was (that) bad a shot, esp at over 200 yards (not sure what final distance calculation is).

A couple inches on that shot up or left and…

Moo.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

For now, I'm thinking he is not different than school shooters. Instead of horrifying the nation by shooting kids, he shot a presidential candidate.

Suicide by sniper.

jmo

This is my thinking too - I'm guessing he wasn't very motivated politically, rather he hadn't found a place in society and lashed out like school shooters do. Crooks might have been just as inclined to shoot Biden.

 

[indicolite22]

Crooks worked in a local nursing home kitchen just a short drive away from his home, the BBC understands.
...
Another former classmate of his, Summer Barkley, cast him differently, telling the BBC that he was "always getting good grades on tests" and was "very passionate about history".

"Anything on government and history he seemed to know about," he said. "But it was nothing out of the ordinary....he was always nice."
...
"He was there but I can't think of anyone who knew him well," one former classmate, who asked to remain nameless, told the BBC. "He's just not a guy I really think about. But he seemed fine.
...
Mr Myers (a memeber of the rifle team) remembers Crooks as seemingly a "normal boy" who was "not particularly popular but never got picked on or anything."

“He was a nice kid who never talked poorly of anyone and I never have thought him capable of anything I’ve seen him do in the last few days.”

Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about Donald Trump's attacker

The 20-year-old registered Republican purchased ammunition the day of the rally, authorities say.

www.bbc.com

At least one schoolmate says that Crooks wasn't bullied. The guy who said he was, wasn't in his class, but saw him at lunch.

 

[Knox]

33 min ago
Trump is en route to Milwuakee
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Share

1 of 2 |
A motorcade with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

2 of 2 |
People watch from the side of the road as a motorcade, presumably transporting Donald Trump to the airport, passes by in Bedminster, N.J., Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

In a post shared on social media, Trump campaign adviser Dan Scavino said the former president was “so grateful for all of your prayers, support and well wishes” as he heads to Milwuakee for the Republican National Convention.

Live updates: New details emerge about Trump rally shooting suspect

Law enforcement officials are working to learn more about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

apnews.com

 

[OddOneOut]

They said in the article that he was mistaken for their own security sniper.

???????????? How is that "lying?"

 

[Sundog]

I think she knows they failed and she failed. It will ultimately fall on them and they didn't do their job yesterday. I am sure tough questions are being asked and she will have to answer to someone for this failure.

She has been asked to appear before the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, July 22nd, right after the RNC ends. This will just be the beginning for Congress' investigation into how this could happen.

 

[Sundog]

Yes, Biden ordered a full investigation yesterday.

As did the U.S. House of Representatives, our representatives in Congress.

 

[margarita25]

JFK 101

SMDH

 

[Knox]

The head of the SS abruptly refused to answer any questions about this attempted assassination.
I personally am not thinking very highly of her at the moment.

A lot of deflection happened in that pressor, IMO.

 

[crhedBngr]

I wouldn’t say he was (that) bad a shot, esp at over 200 yards (not sure what final distance calculation is).

A couple inches on that shot up or left and…

Moo.

Nice to see you, @margarita25 !

I agree completely. Although at this time, there is still confusion as to what hit DT--was it a bullet or something else?

Did his podium have something clear surrounding it? If so, did a bullet hit it and shatter?

I'm very glad he missed. I can't even begin to think about the fallout if DT had been hit.

My thoughts and prayers are with DT, his Family and Friends, and the Victims' Families and Friends.

JMVHO.

 

[SMK777]

???????????? How is that "lying?"

People here who claim to have worked in the field keep convincing me that is not a remote possibility. So let me reword it: Why are they giving such a weak explanation? Lying was the wrong word to use; I was rushing.

 

[Simply Southern]

They said in the article that he was mistaken for their own security sniper.

I'm not buying this, the shooter had long hair, no identifying law enforcement clothing, they all had radios why didn't somebody ask, if they were unsure. The snipers had high powered scopes on their long guns, why couldn't they see this was not one of their own?

Nope major failure for ALL !!!
Moo

 

[justtrish]

Then what is the answer to how this was allowed to happen?

I have no idea how this was allowed to happen.

It's a massive failure that is what I know. I am not much interested in the blame game, but I do hope they thoroughly investigate and get to the truth of how this happened. The only way they prevent this from happening again is to know exactly how it was possible and fix the problems.

 

[Sundog]

Nice to see you, @margarita25 !

I agree completely. Although at this time, there is still confusion as to what hit DT--was it a bullet or something else?

Did his podium have something clear surrounding it? IDK.

JMVHO.

There's no confusion. President Trump was shot.

 

[margarita25]

Nice to see you, @margarita25 !

I agree completely. Although at this time, there is still confusion as to what hit DT--was it a bullet or something else?

JMVHO.

Glad to be here with you all, came here as soon as I heard the news.

I thought it had been determined it WAS a bullet?

Do we have any photos of shell casings, crime scene markers, etc.

 

[Ironhorse]

Can’t stop thinking about “What if…” (shooter had succeeded in assassination)

Don't let the "what if" stop you. What comes after.... can be equally frightening. I'm deeply concerned.

 

[Knox]

Can’t stop thinking about “What if…” (shooter had succeeded in assassination)

If he hadn't tilted/turned his head at that critical moment - I think this would have had a much different outcome.

<modsnip>

 

[crhedBngr]

Classic mass shooter, imo.

I created a thread years ago comparing a bunch of mass shooters, it’s floating around here somewhere.

Please try and find it. I think we'd like to see it!

JMVHO.

 

[DS2021]

Can’t stop thinking about “What if…” (shooter had succeeded in assassination)

I truly think that if that cop didnt climb up there, causing him to hurry, this situation would've been much more serious

 

[justtrish]

People here who claim to have worked in the field keep convincing me that is not a remote possibility. So let me reword it: Why are they giving such a weak explanation? Lying was the wrong word to use; I was rushing.

Well for this I think sometimes people say something because nothing feels like the wrong answer when something of this level happens. When the best thing they can do is say nothing until they know for sure what happened. So maybe it wasn't a lie.. maybe it was speculation that maybe SS saw this guy up there and assumed it was local LE. Well SS should NEVER assume. It is their job to know. Period. It's their job to know. The other part of that is the shooter just does not even remotely look like LE. SS would know that just by looking and they had a rifle with a darn good scope they could see into and basically see him as if he was right there beside them.