Greg Smith recounted standing outside the Butler Farm Show grounds on July 13, unable to enter for former President Donald Trump’s rally but eager to hear his speech. As he listened from outside, he observed a man on the roof firing shots into the rally, causing injuries and a fatality. Smith and his group attempted to alert the U.S. Secret Service to the shooter’s presence, but their efforts seemed to go unnoticed. Eventually, the shooter fired multiple shots before being stopped, likely by the Secret Service.
The Secret Service confirmed that they had eliminated the suspected shooter, who had attacked from an elevated position outside the venue. The FBI later identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and is investigating the incident as an attempted assassination.
Following the chaos of the shooting, Smith emphasized that violence has no place in politics, regardless of political beliefs. Former President Trump was swiftly evacuated from the stage and taken to a hospital before being released and relocating to New Jersey.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of security measures at political events and the need to uphold civil discourse in the political arena.
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