Disturbing details about an attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump continue to emerge, as it has been revealed that a would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was identified and tracked by law enforcement at a Butler, Pennsylvania event where the 2024 GOP nominee was set to speak.

On the evening of July 13, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris confirmed that Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as a suspicious individual at the event, and in addition to Crooks, other attendees were noted for their suspicious behavior by security teams, as Fox News reports.

During testimony to the House Committee on Homeland Security on Tuesday, Paris explained that law enforcement first noticed 20-year-old Crooks around 5:10 p.m.

Crooks immediately drew attention by looking at his phone and using a rangefinder. A sniper stationed at the venue noticed his actions at 5:41 p.m. and quickly shared a photograph of Crooks with the "Sniper Group" chat, which was subsequently relayed to the command post and the Secret Service.

Crooks Monitored by Law Enforcement

Within ten minutes of the initial sighting, Crooks had moved to the roof of a building approximately 150 yards from the podium. Law enforcement officers were tasked with monitoring Crooks' location; however, one officer assigned to the task left their post due to the intense heat that day. The absence of this officer coincided with the time when shots were fired.

Paris emphasized that Crooks raised suspicions because he did not enter the venue but instead was seen wandering around.

Despite being constantly monitored, there was said to be no conclusive information indicating that Crooks possessed a weapon at any point during the event.

In addition to the security concerns, the event witnessed several heat-related medical issues. Over 100 attendees required medical attention, and there was an incident involving a missing six-year-old child.

"Was [Crooks] the only one determined to be suspicious that day?" queried Rep. Andrew Garbarino. "No, he was not," responded Commissioner Paris, confirming that multiple individuals raised security concerns.

Coordination Among Security Teams

Paris further detailed the situation by explaining the immediate response by law enforcement and security teams. "They identified Crooks for not matriculating," explained Colonel Paris, noting that Crooks never made it through the secured perimeter into the venue space itself.

During his testimony, Paris mentioned the communication among security teams. "There was a text thread that was going," he said. The photo taken of Crooks with the rangefinder heightened their suspicions.

"I know from an interview that was immediately relayed in the command post to the Secret Service," Paris added.

Addressing Security Lapses

However, despite these vigilant measures, the incident highlighted certain lapses in security -- specifically the law enforcement officer who left the post due to the extreme heat.

Paris acknowledged these issues, illustrating the challenging conditions faced by both security personnel and attendees.

According to Paris, "Before [Trump] went on to speak... just to be clear, [Crooks] was determined to be suspicious." Despite this, "There was no information that he possessed a weapon," he reiterated.

No Weapon Found

Rep. Garbarino's inquiry into the myriad of suspicious individuals at the event underscores the heightened security concerns and the efforts taken to ensure the safety of high-profile figures such as former President Trump.

In summary, the sighting of Thomas Matthew Crooks and his subsequent monitoring was critical in addressing potential threats at the Butler event. Although Crooks fired shots, it remains unclear whether he was armed, emphasizing the complexities security teams face in such scenarios.

The event's overall security was compounded by numerous other factors, including the sweltering heat that necessitated medical attention for over 100 people and the distressing incident of a missing child. These elements combined to create a highly demanding environment for security personnel.

In conclusion, while the event in Butler underscored the quick thinking and coordinated response of law enforcement, it also highlighted areas that require improvement, such as dealing with extreme weather conditions and ensuring continuous vigilance against possible threats.