Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris told the House DHS Committee that the Butler County Emergency Service Unit had the responsibility to secure the building a man used to shoot former President Donald Trump.
Paris also explained the break down in communication:
The emergency unit is comprised of local officers from across multiple Pennsylvania counties, Paris said.The officers first identified [Thomas Matthew] Crooks as suspicious after seeing him roam around the campaign rally without entering the event, he went on.They saw him from the second-story window overseeing the roof from where Crooks shot, Paris testified.Then, when Crooks produced a range finder, their concerns were heightened further and they left their post at the window to go find the suspect – leaving the roof unguarded.’I am aware that two were in the building,’ Paris responded to questions about whether law enforcement officers were near the location from where Crooks opened fire.’I was told they were in a window,’ he continued.
Paris said Crooks never made or attempted to cross into the secure perimeter, which led the officers to mark him as suspicious.
The officers watching the roof left their post to search for Crooks.
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