New footage from Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally has emerged, showing an individual moving across the AGR International roof just moments before the shooting occurred. The distressing video, captured by James Copenhaver—who was severely injured in the incident—was recorded on July 13 at 6:08 p.m., shortly before the shots rang out.
The footage reveals Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman, running along the rooftop and positioning himself over the rally. The video, obtained by Fox News, shows Crooks in full view of Trump, who was addressing the crowd from the stage below, oblivious to the imminent threat. The video ends just before the shooting begins.
Following the attack, Crooks was shot and killed by Secret Service snipers. Trump sustained injuries in the incident, while firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed. Copenhaver, aged 74, and David Dutch, 57, were both hit by bullets but are now recovering.
The FBI has disclosed that Crooks is suspected of sharing “antisemitic” views and promoting “political violence” on social media. However, the agency is still working to confirm whether the account associated with these posts belonged to the shooter. Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate mentioned that between 2019 and 2020, the account made around 700 online comments, some of which were “extreme” and reflected antisemitic and anti-immigration sentiments.
In recent developments, acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe expressed his embarrassment over the security failures that allowed the shooting to happen. At a joint congressional hearing, Rowe, a 25-year veteran of the Secret Service, admitted he could not justify why the rooftop was inadequately secured.