Would-Be Assassin Was Caught Bringing Laser Rangefinder Into Trump Rally Three Hours Before Shooting: Report

The 20-year-old man who shot former President Donald Trump on Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania aroused suspicions from law enforcement hours before he opened fire on the former president, striking him in the ear and hitting several people who were in the crowd.

Thomas Matthew Crooks arrived at security screening for the event three hours before it started and immediately landed on law enforcement’s radar when they found a laser rangefinder on him.

Rangefinders are commonly used in hunting, long distance shooting, and golf as the device, which can look similar to a small pair of binoculars, instantly tells users how far away they are from a given target.

One of the counter-sniper teams noticed that Crooks was monitoring their position with the rangefinder and they continued to monitor him while he was in the area.

Before going to the rally, Crooks went to Home Depot where he purchased a ladder that he used to climb up onto a roof approximately 450-feet away from where Trump was standing on stage.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) said on Wednesday that Secret Service’s meeting with Senators was “a 100% cover-your-a** briefing.”

“He was identified as being suspicious one hour before the shooting. He had a range finder and a backpack. The Secret Service lost sight of him,” Barrasso told The Daily Wire. “No one has taken responsibility. No one has been held responsible. Someone has died. The president was almost killed. The head of the Secret Service needs to go.”

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Local law enforcement officials warned the Secret Service before Trump’s rally that they lacked the resources to station a patrol car outside of the building where Crooks climbed on the roof and shot Trump and others in attendance.

Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told The Washington Post that the Secret Service “was informed that the local police department did not have the manpower to assist with securing that building.”

A Secret Service official confirmed to the newspaper that Goldinger’s allegation was accurate. The official said that having officers posted outside of buildings is critical for preventing potential assassins from gaining rooftop access to buildings where they have the high ground and a clear line of sight on their target.

Video from the incident that was analyzed by the Post showed that police were warned at least 86 seconds before the suspect opened fire.

Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle said during an interview this week that she would not resign after her agency failed to prevent the shooting.