The U.S. Secret Service reportedly missed over 100 local radio transmissions concerning the individual who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general revealed that the agency was unaware of these 102 transmissions on July 13, 2024, due to its failure to establish a shared communications room with local law enforcement. Consequently, the Secret Service did not alert President Trump’s security team about the suspicious individual, later identified as Thomas Crooks, despite local authorities receiving reports about him.
Instead of receiving the numerous radio transmissions, the Secret Service only received a total of five phone calls and three text messages regarding Crooks. This communication breakdown led to a lack of warning to the protective detail of President Trump. Crooks, who was ultimately shot and killed by law enforcement at the rally, opened fire while the President was delivering a speech. The incident resulted in the death of a bystander, multiple injuries, including a grazing bullet wound to Trump’s ear, as Crooks had gained access to a nearby rooftop with a direct line of sight to the President.
In response to the report, the Secret Service stated its agreement with the recommendations put forth by the inspector general. The agency mentioned that many of these recommendations had already been identified and incorporated into their ongoing reform efforts. The report further highlighted that Crooks flew a drone over the area in the hours leading up to the shooting, which went undetected because the Secret Service’s counter-drone system was not operational. The system was being operated by an inadequately trained individual who did not conduct proper testing before the event, leading to a delay in detecting Crooks’ drone flight that lasted almost nine minutes without detection.
This report is part of a series of investigations that have uncovered significant deficiencies in the Secret Service’s security protocols for the event. Congressional panels and government watchdogs have repeatedly highlighted these shortcomings, shedding light on the lapses in security measures.