PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Pennsylvania State Police commissioner’s testimony at the Capitol on Tuesday raised new questions about security measures at former President Donald Trump’s July 13 rally at the Butler Farm Show, which was interrupted after a gunman fired 8 shots in less than six seconds.
Col. Christopher Paris told the House Homeland Security Committee that two local officials left their posts to search for the gunman, known as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, shortly before he opened fire from a rooftop near the rally. , killing one person and wounding three, including Trump. The former president was hit by a bullet in the ear, Trump and his former White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, said.
The two officials were stationed in the windows of the second floor of a building in a complex owned by AGR International, a corporation next to the agricultural exhibition ground.
Paris wasn’t sure if those poles offered a transparent view of the roof from which Crooks had finally fired, which was also part of the AGR complex.
“If [Butler County Emergency Services Unit] had maintained their position at that roof window, is it true that they would have shot Mr. Crooks as he climbed onto the roof to his firing position?”Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina asked.
“I’m not in a position to say that because I don’t know the exact timeline of events,” Paris said.
He said police went after Crooks after seeing him on the ground.
“At one point, they began searching, along with other local officers, immediately after Crooks was identified as a suspect through them,” Paris said. “At one point he pulled out a rangefinder, which reinforced suspicions. “
A local law enforcement official in the past told CBS News that a sniper took a photo of the shooter and saw him through the rangefinder. In graphic law enforcement bodycam video released Tuesday through Sen. Chuck Grassley, local law enforcement officers are seen discussing photos of criminals that were released before the shooting.
During a field trip to the domain before the event, a Pennsylvania State Police commander asked the Secret Service who was guilty of securing the roof of the AGR building and told it that task fell to the Butler County ESU, Paris said.
As reported via KDKA-TV, Butler County authorities told the Secret Service that they may not be guilty of securing the building, but the Secret Service never responded to those messages.
Paris also disagrees with former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s assessment of AGR construction that the roof was too steep for service personnel.
Cheatle, who has since resigned, told ABC News that “there is one protective thing that would be here, and that is that we wouldn’t need to put anyone on a sloped roof. “
“Would the slope of the roof prevent a sniper from being up there?” asked committee chairman Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, in Paris.
“I don’t think so, sir,” Paris replied.
Paris said he was limited to what he could say and could not compromise the investigation into the shooting.
“This is an ongoing, complex and dynamic investigation. And every day, as we get to the 10th [Tuesday], I’m being told several new facts as we discover new information, as the investigation progresses. “
“What do you say to those who say that the local authorities did not provide sufficient security at this meeting?” asked Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito of New York in Paris.
“Based on everything I know as of the 10th, I’m just going to tell the Pennsylvania State Police. And I believe, as I sit here, based on all the data I have, that we met or exceeded our expectations for this If I’m saying that the occasion was a success, it clearly wasn’t,” Paris said.
Another 32 people were provided by Pennsylvania State Police at the request of the Secret Service and were tasked with leading a motorcade for Trump with the Secret Service. Other PSP workers filled security positions at the Butler Farm Show secure domain. Two infantrymen were conducting “roaming missions” outside the safe zone, he said.
The PSP also had a corps of workers within a command post that included members of the Secret Service.
Paris opened her speech at the more than four-hour audience by offering prayers for Trump, the family of Corey Comperatore, 50, a local firefighter killed in the shooting, as well as two other aides, David Dutch, 57. and James Copenhaver, 74, who were injured but survived.
FBI Director Christopher Wray is the next official to face complaints from lawmakers over Trump’s assassination attempt. He is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.