Staff Reports
A 20-year-old high school graduate with a serious mental illness attempted to aim at former President Donald Trump during a rally, and the fallout has some conservative commentators scratching their heads over the security apparatus. On July 13, Thomas Crooks let loose a barrage of gunfire, injuring Trump and killing a supporter, Corey Comperatore, before he himself was met with the swift response of Secret Service agents. This alarming incident has raised serious questions about how a man could maneuver an AR-15 into a crowd without raising suspicions.
Newly released footage captures the chaos as Crooks, perched atop a building, fired into the crowd with reckless abandon. The rallygoers, there for a dose of Trump-inspired enthusiasm, suddenly found themselves seeking safety rather than soaking up the political ambience. Those who witnessed the mayhem remarked that it was clear from the get-go that security measures at the event were woefully inadequate. One ex-military attendee, alarmed by the lack of vetting, couldn’t believe they were left so exposed, standing near a fence with a ringside view of the action.
BREAKING: Shocking Footage Shows Thomas Crooks Aim Rifle At Rallygoers Amid Chaos https://t.co/2FrAkKm3T7
— Brian Craig 🇺🇸 (@BrianCraigShow) July 25, 2024
Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa has taken it upon himself to dig deeper into the authorities’ handling of the situation. Along the way, Grassley released bodycam footage confirming that a Secret Service counter-sniper took out the would-be assassin in a stunning if not heroic, display of marksmanship. However, questions linger regarding why officers on the scene failed to intercept Crooks before he opened fire. Coincidentally, a separate weapon discharged during the furor, leading to suspicions of further security oversights.
Reportedly, the isolated rooftops and back alleys surrounding the rally site were not as monitored as they ought to have been. Crooks created a makeshift hideout for his rifle, possibly concealing it behind an air-conditioning unit. Authorities are piecing together his actions leading up to the rally, noting he may have been using a drone to gather intelligence days in advance. Clearly, this wasn’t just a chaotic act of violence spurred by sudden emotion; Crooks appears to have planned this meticulously.
As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clearer that the failure wasn’t just a lone misstep but an elaborate failure to protect a former president, underscoring potential blind spots in security protocols. If military veterans are observing glaring lapses on the ground, one shudder to think what other threats could be lurking in the shadows at political events—where those who choose to engage peacefully can somehow find themselves facing the fiercest of dangers.
