During a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, former President Donald Trump was shot and injured by a 20-year-old gunman, who also killed a spectator and injured two others before being shot dead by a U.S. Secret Service sniper.

A lack of communication between local police and the Secret Service that has since emerged is now being scrutinized as a critical failure that allowed the attack on Trump to occur, as Fox News reports.

Local Police Cite Communication Failures

A police officer with a local tactical group in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealed that there was no contact between its SWAT team members and the U.S. Secret Service prior to the shooting at the rally. The absence of this critical communication is now being examined as a significant oversight.

Jason Woods, the lead sharpshooter for the Beaver County tactical team, expressed frustration over the missed briefing with the Secret Service. "We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service members whenever they arrived. That never happened," Woods stated.

Woods emphasized the importance of the planned briefing, suggesting its absence indicated early signs of disorganization. "I think that was probably a pivotal point, where I started thinking things were wrong because it never happened. We had no communication," he added.

Sequence of the Shooting Incident

The shooting incident unfolded when Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired at former President Trump, wounding him and killing a spectator named Corey Compartore. Crooks also injured two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

Woods pointed to the lack of communication as a likely critical failure in the event's planning. "Our first communication with the Secret Service was not until after the shooting," he said. "By then, it was too late."

The incident led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, highlighting the severity of the communication breakdown.

Investigations and Reactions

In response to the shooting, law enforcement and congressional probes have been announced. These investigations aim to uncover the details of the communication failures and ensure such an incident does not occur again.

Woods reported that his team was in position hours before Trump took the stage, but their initial contact with the Secret Service only occurred after the shooting had begun. This delay proved to be a critical gap in security coordination.

A Beaver County sniper had taken photos of Crooks and reported his suspicious presence. Despite this, Crooks managed to position himself on a rooftop, from where he launched his attack.

Trump's Advisers and Secret Service Response

Members of Trump's Secret Service detail and his top advisers questioned the lack of information about the suspicious individual spotted by local police. This oversight prevented them from considering delaying Trump's speech.

Advisers initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks, causing further confusion. Unnamed advisers expressed bewilderment over the communication failure, which hindered them from taking preventive measures.

Former President Trump criticized the lack of communication in a subsequent interview with Fox News. "Nobody mentioned it. Nobody said there was a problem. They could’ve said, ‘Let’s wait for 15 minutes, 20 minutes, five minutes,’ something. Nobody said -- I think that was a mistake," Trump commented.

Local Law Enforcement Perspective

Beaver County Chief Detective Patrick Young, who runs the Emergency Services Unit and SWAT team, defended the actions of his team. "We talk a lot on SWAT that we as individuals mean nothing until we come together as a team," Young stated, indicating that the team did everything within their power on that day.

The U.S. Secret Service has since committed to understanding the communication failures that occurred before, during, and after the assassination attempt. Officials have pledged complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI, and other relevant investigations.

"As it relates to communications on that day, we are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that it never happens again," the Secret Service said in a statement.

In conclusion, the tragic events of July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, highlighted significant communication failures between local law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service. The incident resulted in the injury of former President Trump, the death of a spectator, and injuries to two others. Moving forward, both local and federal agencies are focused on ensuring that such a breakdown in communication does not happen again.