Secret Service Identified Suspect as 'Suspicious' Over an Hour Before Shooting

An investigation into the shooting attempt at former President Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania revealed that the Secret Service had identified the suspect as suspicious more than an hour before the incident.

Local police stationed outside former President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday were alerted to the presence of a "suspicious male" more than an hour before an officer encountered the gunman and fell from the roof of the AGR building, authorities said Wednesday.

According to Butler Township Manager Tom Knights, upon Trump's arrival, a call was received regarding a suspicious male near the AGR building, prompting several officers to leave their traffic posts and assist in the search.

Secret Service Identified Suspect as 'Suspicious' Over an Hour Before Shooting

"A search was conducted around the AGR building and the person of interest was not located, and no ladder was discovered," Knights said.

A Butler Township police officer then climbed onto the rooftop with the help of a colleague and encountered the gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park.

Secret Service Identified Suspect as 'Suspicious' Over an Hour Before Shooting

Witnesses began screaming that an individual on the rooftop had a gun around the same time.

Crooks aimed his rifle at the officer, who was forced to drop from the roof's edge as he was unable to engage Crooks while holding on.

Secret Service Identified Suspect as 'Suspicious' Over an Hour Before Shooting

Butler Township Police immediately communicated Crooks' location and that he possessed a weapon. Moments later, Crooks began firing.

He shot at least four people before Secret Service and local law enforcement snipers returned fire. A Secret Service agent neutralized Crooks at the scene, but not before he fatally wounded Corey Comperatore, 50, and critically injured David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.

Trump was also hit in the ear and had blood on the side of his head as he was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents.

According to Sen. John Barasso, lawmakers were informed during a congressional briefing on Wednesday afternoon that Crooks had been identified as a suspicious individual over an hour before Trump took the stage.

Sources previously reported that an initial sighting of Crooks carrying a range-finder before the shooting had been reported to Pennsylvania State Police and disregarded. However, the PSP stated that they had dispatched dozens of troopers at the Secret Service's request to assist with rally security but were not responsible for securing the building or property where Crooks was located.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general are investigating the incident, including Crooks' motive and recent communications. Butler Township has stated that it will cooperate with the investigating agencies and will provide further comment once the investigation report is complete and made public.