Rooftop Figure Emerges in Video from Trump Assassination Attempt

A chilling video has surfaced showing a figure moving across a rooftop just minutes before a gunman opened fire on former President Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, leading to the critical wounding of three victims.

A newly released video has captured a chilling glimpse into the moments leading up to an assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The footage, recorded by James Copenhaver, one of the victims critically wounded in the attack, shows a figure moving across the rooftop of the building from which gunman Thomas Crooks fired eight gunshots.

The U.S. Secret Service and FBI are investigating the video, which Copenhaver shared exclusively with Fox News Digital. The video was taken at 6:08 p.m. on July 13, just minutes before Crooks fired at Trump around 6:11 p.m.

Rooftop Figure Emerges in Video from Trump Assassination Attempt

In a statement, the Secret Service said it is committed to understanding the events surrounding the assassination attempt and ensuring it never happens again. The FBI also acknowledged the video but declined further comment.

The assassination attempt took a deadly turn when Crooks killed 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, a father and volunteer fire chief. He also critically wounded Copenhaver, now 74, and 57-year-old David Dutch. Trump narrowly escaped harm when he turned his head at the last moment, causing a bullet to slice his ear.

Rooftop Figure Emerges in Video from Trump Assassination Attempt

Law enforcement officials are piecing together a timeline of events to determine how and why Crooks was able to carry out the attack.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's office has released text messages obtained through a public records request showing that law enforcement was aware of a suspicious person near the rally site about 90 minutes before the shooting. Photos of Crooks were taken around 4:36 p.m.

Rooftop Figure Emerges in Video from Trump Assassination Attempt

FBI officials have revealed that Crooks gained access to the roof of the AGR building by climbing HVAC equipment and piping. He then traversed multiple rooftops before finding a position with a direct line of sight to the former president.

In the lead-up to the shooting, Crooks researched the distance between Lee Harvey Oswald and former President John F. Kennedy when Oswald assassinated him in 1963. He also visited the rally site and spent approximately 20 minutes in the area.

Rooftop Figure Emerges in Video from Trump Assassination Attempt

On the day of the rally, Crooks parked his vehicle and flew a drone near the former president's speaking location. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified that Crooks had been at the site for about 70 minutes the morning of the attempt.

The emergence of the video showing a figure moving across the rooftop has raised further questions about the security measures in place and whether there were any missed opportunities to prevent the assassination attempt.

Rooftop Figure Emerges in Video from Trump Assassination Attempt

Investigators are continuing to analyze the video and other evidence to determine the full extent of Crooks' actions and the circumstances surrounding the attack.