Trump shooting: Local police testify they identified Crooks as suspicious person to Secret Service

The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing Tuesday on the assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump, which included Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) National President Patrick Yoes acting as witnesses.

Col. Paris testified that when the shooter Thomas Crooks was first identified as a suspicious person "the PSP member received that information and verbally turned around and gave it to the Secret Service, our (PSP) member was provided a number to which the picture that had been taken by the ESU (Butler Emergency Services Unit) members — that was on that group thread — to which that should be sent. Our member did that, and to our understanding that was some element of the Secret Service."

When asked about the incident that involved an officer being hoisted up to see who was on the roof of the building before Crooks pointed his rifle at the officer who quickly retreated, Col. Paris testified that it was only "seconds" before Crooks started shooting at former president Trump, correcting statements he gave earlier in the hearing saying minutes went by after the officer first saw Crooks with the rifle on the roof of the building.

News broke during Tuesday's hearing that Cheatle had tendered her resignation.

#GlobalNews

[charlesmurphy]

Every person that was on the job that day needs to be investigated.this is looking more and more that this was on purpose..

[southerncali]

They’re grilling the wrong person and this guy answered more questions than the FBI director did yesterday!

[tripd]

They literally set this entire thing Hell, the shooter even trained at the ATF shooting range....

[aguerra]

That building is NOT "not that steep" it's almost FLAT!

[lisaferro]

Come on, it's right in frount of us. SS were ordered to stand down.

[pavlestanimirovic]

Gross incompetence is beyond comprehension this was a hit job !

[Scaash]

Local police better realize that SS is trying to throw them under the bus and need to get ahead of it

[RandyEcleberry-ihxl]

What THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Where? A person on the roof with a gun? We are clearly under attack!

[richland]

Best question: why did some of the rally participants see a threat before the Secret Service did?

[EvangelistDonClark]

The word is not incompetence. The puzzle is so easy. The word is complicit.

[kennethraymondmoore]

If this isn't a conspiracy, it's the greatest demonstration of incompetence ever.

[AKPNW]

They aren’t asking the right questions. Why did they not confront him from the window?! The security team should have kept Trump off stage and took Crooks into custody. Everything besides that is evidence of culpability.

[GrayMatterBBC]

So they had a direct threat, Couldn’t locate the threat and still let 45 on stage😳

[SuperProGro]

Who came to the upstairs window to get those counter snipers to leave their post. Sounds

[rubenoteiza]

ironically, it was Cheatles's behavior, refusing to answer even the most "innocent" question during her interrogation that has confirmed for many the impression that there have been a cover up and has made many others start thinking that something is amiss.

The truth is, if this had been really a typical case of a confused, depressed young man going nuts and taking a rifle and going out and try to kill as many people as possible, including an ex-president, the case could have been closed in a few days, like it was in the Columbine case, but that AFTER NINE DAYS she wouldn't be able to answer one single question it was bound to raise red flags all over. Good job girl.

[gdellatorre]

How can a suspicious actor be allowed to remain in position to attack? Why wasn’t he approached and told to stand down immediately?

[itsmelampoi]

Carrying a ladder and a rifle, hes a little suspicious, !! True professionals

[sallyreagle]

All security for that incident should be held responsible

[VanessaCurry]

I’m so angry with the director and leadership in secret service not the actual agents that were Hero’s on that day my Aunt was there my dads family is all from Sarver a part of Butler firefighter Corey and his family attend their church I don’t even really have words strong enough to explain what theyre all going through currently did that day did the day of the funeral and who knows for how long ppl will struggle with this traumatic totally preventable failure!! One thing I will and can say is Butler is a great small family oriented place and they have all stepped up to support Corey’s family and each other and that’s a beautiful thing that gives me so much hope for my family and everyone else!! More ppl need to be held accountable and they shouldn’t only be fired they should go to jail for manslaughter!! There’s way too many mistake a for it to just be a “ failure”!!!

[ricksaldana]

That window was used by another sniper who missed the target and hit the ear. Those were the first three shots. These cops know the truth and it will come out.