The first shot that struck Thomas Crooks, the man who fired eight rounds at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, wounding Trump and killing an attendee, came from a local SWAT officer stationed about 100 yards away from the rooftop where Crooks was positioned, according to a preliminary investigative report by Rep. Clay Higgins.
The SWAT officer noticed Crooks moving on the rooftop and quickly left his post, sprinting toward a vantage point where he could take a clear shot, “running directly into the line of fire while Crooks was actively shooting,” Higgins reported.
“The officer’s shot appears to have hit Crooks and may have damaged the buffer tube on Crooks’ AR-15,” Higgins added, citing eyewitness accounts. This shot may have disabled Crooks’ rifle.
The fatal shot that killed Crooks was fired by a U.S. Secret Service counter-sniper, according to Higgins.
Higgins, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives task force investigating the incident, traveled to Butler County to reconstruct how Crooks accessed the rooftop and to assess the events that unfolded. He was assisted by local officials, including the commander of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit tactical team and a senior official from the Butler County District Attorney’s office.
One theory Higgins explored was whether there was a second shooter positioned on a nearby water tower overlooking the fairgrounds.
“There are videos online showing what appears to be a dark figure or shadow on the water tower on July 13. However, if someone had been on that tower, they would have to possess exceptional skills far beyond what I’ve ever seen,” Higgins wrote. “Regular SWAT operators or snipers wouldn’t have the ability or equipment to scale the first 25 feet without a ladder, climb the remaining 75 feet to the catwalk, and then navigate the precarious dome vent access ladder.”
Higgins concluded that it was unlikely a second shooter was on the water tower and noted that all 10 shots heard that day were accounted for: eight fired by Crooks, one by the SWAT officer, and one by the Secret Service.
Higgins indicated his intention to personally climb the water tower as part of the ongoing investigation.
“As I’ve said, every question will be answered, every theory explored, and every doubt erased. The American people deserve the full truth about the attempted assassination of President Trump,” Higgins stated. “Our investigative efforts are progressing in good faith. The release of my preliminary investigative report reflects my commitment to transparency and reassurance for the American people.”
Higgins has shared his findings with Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who chairs the House task force. The task force was established to issue subpoenas and conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting, with a deadline of December 13 to produce a final report.
Kelly and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, have requested documents and information related to the attempted assassination from top federal officials, including U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The lawmakers have yet to disclose what information they’ve received.