How the Trump Rally Gunman Had an Edge Over the Countersnipers

The would-be assassin who opened fire at Donald J. Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13th, was able to get a clear shot at the former president as countersniper teams failed to spot him in time. The New York Times reconstructed the lines of sight for both the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and three teams of countersnipers using drone photography and 3-D modeling. Mr. Crooks, 20, appears to have surveyed the site with a drone before the rally, exploiting a blind spot within rifle range of Mr. Trump, which raises questions about security planning lapses. Secret Service director, Kimberly A. Cheatle, resigned on Tuesday after declining to answer lawmakers' questions about sightlines and security breakdowns. Stationed on a barn behind Mr. Trump, one Secret Service team faced the gunman's direction for 30 minutes before the shooting, as seen in verified social media videos. The Times' drone footage shows how trees and the warehouse roof slope may have impaired the countersnipers' view. A second Secret Service team initially faced away from the gunman but turned toward him 1 minute and 35 seconds before the first shot. The gunman's prone body would have been largely hidden by the roof slope from both teams, per a Times analysis. Secret Service countersnipers likely shot Mr. Crooks 42 seconds after the shooting began. Local law enforcement countersnipers were also stationed in the same warehouse complex but in an adjacent building, per an official. It is unclear if they had windows facing the gunman. Videos and photos show a possible fourth local countersniper team 1,000 feet from Mr. Crooks, but it's unknown if they fired. Mr. Crooks' spot provided a clear, elevated line of sight, and the roof slope and trees concealed him as he crawled up. Investigators believe he surveyed the site with a drone, but the Secret Service didn't use drones for the rally. Mr. Crooks fired multiple shots, injuring Mr. Trump's ear. A rally attendee was fatally shot, and two others were struck but survived. The Secret Service later acknowledged that the warehouse complex was outside the secure zone. The complex is publicly accessible, and a video shows Mr. Crooks in front of the warehouse before the shooting. Dozens of officers from multiple agencies were on the rally grounds, and Ms. Cheatle said the complex was monitored, but she didn't specify by whom. An FBI investigation found a local SWAT team spotted Mr. Crooks on the roof 18 minutes before Mr. Trump's speech, but he still took the stage.