Newly obtained dramatic bodycam footage showcases the high-stakes moments leading up to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The footage, provided through the Butler Township Police captured the intense confrontation on the roof of the AGR building where the suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was stationed.

The video, recorded last month during the Trump campaign rally, displayed the harrowing seconds before Crooks, armed with a DPMS AR-15 rifle, opened fire. The gunfire resulted in the tragic death of Corey Comparatore and injury to two others, while a bullet grazed former President Trump’s ear.

The footage begins with one Butler Township police officer being hoisted onto the building’s roof by another before Crooks turns his gun on the officer, and all hell breaks loose. Their body cameras flicker with urgency as they navigate the building, shouting commands and coordinating with other units. Officers repeatedly called for a ladder to reach Crooks’ position due to the chaotic nature of the situation.

Throughout the recording, viewers can hear the officers’ frantic communication. “He’s straight up,” one officer is heard saying, signaling Crooks’ exact location. Another clip shows an officer warning, “He’s laying down, he’s going north, next building over,” as they tried to pin down the suspect’s movements. “He’s got glasses, long hair,” the officer said.

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Crooks unleashed chaos on July 13 when he attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a packed rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks opened fire from a nearby rooftop, grazing Trump’s ear and tragically killing one rally-goer while leaving two others critically wounded. He was taken down by a Secret Service sniper, ending the rampage. Hailing from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Crooks was a reclusive figure, excelling in academics and graduating with honors from his high school. Described by classmates as the quiet type, Crooks faced his share of bullying over the years. He had a knack for chess and video games and held an associate degree in engineering science from the Community College of Allegheny County.

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The day before the attack, Crooks had been at a shooting range, honing his skills. He had also searched the web for information on Trump and other high-profile figures and events, as well as details about depressive disorders and historical shootings. When the police finally cornered him, they found bomb-making materials in his car and residence. Crooks once donated $15 to a Democrat voter turnout initiative and was registered as a Republican. He had voted only once, in the 2022 midterm elections.

Crooks was under surveillance well over an hour before the attack, indicating a lapse in security response. Despite this, the Secret Service failed to man certain strategic positions and Crooks had earlier surveyed the rally site with a drone—something the Secret Service had failed to do due to an alleged technical issue.

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