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Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is leading an investigation into the authorities’ response that day. Bodycam footage, released by Grassley, confirms that a Secret Service sniper ultimately took down Crooks. The FBI is also looking into why a local officer retreated during a confrontation with Crooks moments before the shooting began. According to a source briefed on the investigation, a third weapon was fired during the assassination attempt, a detail confirmed by Fox News.
“A source familiar with the investigation tells me that, look, it took a single shot to kill the would-be assassin Thomas Crooks. And that shot came from a Secret Service counter-sniper that the source says he described the shot as a one-in-a-million type of shot,” reported Fox News correspondent Bryan Llenas. “The counter-sniper could only see the top of the scope, his eye, and forehead because the lip of the AGR building that Crooks was on was obscuring that view.” The source further noted that a local police counter-sniper team also fired at Crooks, but missed, which had previously led audio experts to suggest a third weapon had been discharged.
“Federal law enforcement sources tell Fox that while Crooks snuck up on that roof, a Butler Township Emergency Services unit sniper team was looking out of the windows of that same building watching for any suspicious activity,” added Llenas.
Authorities are probing how Crooks managed to smuggle an AR-15 rifle past security and reach his firing position. It’s believed he concealed the weapon behind an air-conditioning unit and used it to climb onto the roof. Alternatively, he might have disassembled and reassembled the rifle, hiding it in his backpack, as he was seen with the bag about an hour before the shooting. Crooks reportedly used a drone to survey the site days prior and was observed acting suspiciously hours before the rally. Shortly before he began shooting, an officer noticed Crooks using a rangefinder to measure the distance to the stage. However, by the time additional officers arrived, Crooks had already positioned himself and started firing.
Brutal “Pocket Weapon” Stops Hearts (discounted for next 78)
The incident has sparked a debate over the security measures at political events, with many calling for increased precautions to prevent similar tragedies in the future. As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the lapses that allowed such a catastrophic breach to occur.
