In a chilling development, newly uncovered footage appears to show Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin of former President Donald Trump, wandering around the site of the Butler, Pennsylvania rally just hours before his deadly attack on July 13, 2024.
The video, which has surfaced on social media platforms, was reportedly captured by a small business owner selling patriotic hats at the event. The merchant, who has not been identified, made the startling discovery while reviewing their footage from that fateful day.
The TikTok video, which has since gone viral, is captioned with an ominous message: “Terrifying moment… Looking back at my videos from the PA Butler Trump rally on 7/13/24… we were there just trying to sell our patriotic hats…”
The footage then transitions to a slow-motion clip of a man believed to be Crooks, with text overlay stating, “Captured a video of Thomas Matthews Crooks at 4:26pm, before the assassination attempt occurred.”
The incident, which left bystander Corey Comperatore dead and injured David Dutch and James Copenhaver, shocked the nation and sparked a heated debate about security measures for high-profile political events.
Former President Trump sustained an ear injury during the attack, which occurred while he was addressing supporters at the rally. The Secret Service quickly neutralized the threat, fatally shooting Crooks as he fired from a nearby rooftop.
The emergence of this video comes on the heels of a preliminary investigation report released by Representative Clay Higgins, a Louisiana Republican serving on the House task force investigating the shooting. Higgins’ report, submitted to task force chairman Representative Mike Kelly earlier this week, has raised eyebrows and fueled further speculation about the handling of evidence in the case.
In his report, Higgins detailed his unsuccessful attempt to examine Crooks’ body during a three-day trip to Butler in early August. The congressman wrote that his effort to examine Crooks’ body on August 5 revealed that the FBI had released the body for cremation 10 days after the incident, on July 23. Higgins stated that this fact was unknown to local authorities, including the County Coroner and Sheriff, until his inquiry.
Higgins went on to allege that this action by the FBI could only be described as an obstruction to any following investigative effort. The congressman also noted that both the coroner’s report and the autopsy report were “late,” further complicating the investigation.
Newsweek has contacted The Butler County Coroner’s office and the FBI, but neither have responded to requests for comment on these allegations.
The newly surfaced video of Crooks at the rally site adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate case. The video has also reignited debates about security protocols at large political gatherings. Open-air rallies present unique security risks, and balancing public access with comprehensive security measures remains an ongoing challenge for protection details.
Higgins, in a statement accompanying his preliminary report, reiterated his commitment to uncovering the full truth behind the attempted assassination. He declared that every question would be answered, every theory explored, and every doubt erased, emphasizing that the American people deserve the full truth on the attempted assassination of President Trump.
Bethel Park School District