During a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last Saturday, a Secret Service counter-sniper made a remarkable shot that ended the life of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Trump. According to a source familiar with the investigation, the shot was described as a 'one-in-a-million shot' due to the challenging circumstances.
The Secret Service sniper's view was obstructed by the lip of the roof, allowing only a limited sight of Crooks' gun scope and the top of his eye and forehead. Despite the difficult conditions, the sniper managed to take a single shot that proved to be fatal for the would-be assassin.
Additionally, a local tactical team also engaged Crooks but unfortunately missed their shot. The incident has raised questions about the security measures in place that allowed Crooks to climb onto a building and target President Trump.
While the Secret Service agents who swiftly responded to the threat and protected Trump are being commended for their actions, the agency's director, Kimberly Cheatle, is facing criticism for her handling of the security breach. Lawmakers have called for Cheatle's resignation, prompting the House Committee On Oversight and Accountability to schedule a hearing on the matter.
The upcoming hearing, titled 'Oversight of the U.S. Secret Service and the Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump,' is set to take place on Monday at 10 a.m. on Capitol Hill. The investigation into the shooting continues as more details emerge about the events leading up to the thwarted assassination attempt.
