Newly revealed text messages show that law enforcement officers monitoring former President Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania had flagged Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin, as suspicious at least 90 minutes before he opened fire.
The texts, obtained by Fox News Digital from Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and originating from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit, indicate that officers had spotted the 20-year-old Crooks using a range finder but did not approach him. The New York Times first reported these details.
In a group chat of Beaver ESU officers, one officer departing his shift around 4:30 p.m. warned his colleagues about Crooks. The officer noted that Crooks had parked near their vehicles and mentioned his presence near a picnic table about 50 yards from the rally’s exit.
“Someone followed our lead and snuck in and parked by our cars just so you know,” read the officer’s text at 4:36 p.m. Other counter-snipers acknowledged the message with a thumbs-up emoji, indicating they understood and would stay alert.
By 5:10 p.m., officers reported that Crooks had moved and positioned himself near the American Glass International (AGR) building, from where he later targeted Trump. An officer snapped a picture of Crooks leaning against the AGR building, noting that he had seen Crooks with a range finder looking towards the stage.
“Kid leaning around building we are in,” the officer wrote in a text message, accompanied by an image of Crooks. “AGR I believe it is. I did see him with a range finder looking towards stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS snipers to look out.”
The officer added that he had lost sight of Crooks and suggested calling it in to command and having a uniformed officer check it out. These texts reveal that authorities were aware of the suspicious person approximately 90 minutes before the shooting, updating the previously known timeframe of about 60 minutes.
By 6:11 p.m., about an hour after the last text message, Crooks was killed by a counter-sniper after he opened fire at the rally. Trump was grazed by a bullet on his ear, while three rallygoers were shot, including Corey Comperatore, 50, who was killed protecting his family. David Dutch and James Copenhaver were injured; Copenhaver was recently released from the hospital on Friday, and Dutch was discharged on Wednesday, July 24.
