New Trump rally video shows wannabe assassin calmly walking through crowd before shooting former president & supporters
AN unsettling new video has shown the gunman who opened fire on Donald Trump last month calmly walking around just hours before the attack.
New video footage shows Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, walking around the Butler, Pennsylvania rally less than two hours before he began shooting into the crowd on July 13.
The chilling footage shows that Crooks was empty-handed – without his rifle – when he was caught on video just before 4:30 pm, TMZ reported.
About an hour and a half later, shortly after 6 pm, a bullet shot by Crooks grazed the ear of former president Donald Trump.
Two others were injured in the shooting and firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed while protecting his family.
In the short video clip, Crooks can be seen walking along the pavement and looking to the side at 4:26 pm.
The footage was reportedly captured by a small business owner who was selling merchandise at the rally.
He only recently realized that he had captured Crooks on camera when he was going back through his footage of the day.
The clothing company, Iron Clad USA, released the clip once they realized Crooks was featured in it.
“Terrifying moment… looking back on my videos from the PA Butler rally on 7/13/24,” the owner wrote on a TikTok version of the video that Fox News reported on.
“We were there just trying to sell our patriotic hats from my small business.”
In the video, Crooks is dressed in shorts and a “Demolitia” T-shirt, Fox News reported.
This is the same t-shirt he was wearing when he opened fire on Trump less than two hours later.
“The U.S. Secret Service is aware of and reviewing a variety of footage from July 13 as part of our mission assurance review,” the Secret Service said in a statement about the new footage.
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to examining the processes, procedures, and factors that led to this operational failure, so that we can ensure it never happens again.”
This news comes as bodycam footage was released earlier this month which showed the moment officers climbed onto the roof where Crooks was located.
The footage was taken by two Butler Township Police officers who tried to stop the shooter.
The clip showed one officer hoisting another onto the roof where Crook was with his AR-15 rifle, with a direct line of sight to Trump.
Donald Trump's Full Statement Post-Rally Shooting
Former president Donald Trump provided an update on Truth Social after the shooting that took place at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
An inquiry into the incident has also revealed that counter-snipers were aware of Crook’s presence for more than 100 minutes before the shooting.
As well as this, a haunting image emerged earlier this month showing Crooks on his phone just minutes before the attack.
Crooks can be seen sitting on a wall in a grassy area, scrolling on his cell phone.
He appeared fairly relaxed in the photos, just moments before he injured two people in the crowd and killed another.
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
In light of the events at the Butler campaign rally last month, security has been ramped up for Trump’s first outdoor rally since the assassination attempt.
The Republican presidential nominee will appear at a North Carolina rally today and will stand behind bulletproof glass when he takes the podium, the Washington Examiner reported.
The Secret Service plans to place Trump behind a see-through protective barrier at the campaign rally in Asheboro, North Carolina – about an hour and a half drive from Raleigh.
According to a Washington Examiner source who has firsthand knowledge of the security measures, the protective screen will be a similar material to glass used in the president’s limousine.
Trump’s North Carolina rally can be seen as an attempt to counterprogram the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.
Speakers at the DNC have so far included President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and more.
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama spoke at the convention last night and former President Bill Clinton and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz are expected to make an appearance this evening.