Written by Samuel Harper.

The failed assassination attempt on presidential candidate Donald Trump has unveiled a series of security missteps, intensifying scrutiny of the Secret Service’s protocols. According to a report by Fox News, the parents of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, contacted law enforcement on the day of the incident, warning them about their son’s concerning behavior.

Parents’ Desperate Plea Ignored

As the story unfolds, it appears that Thomas Crooks’ parents were frantically searching for him in the hours leading up to the attack. “We have just learned that the Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks’ parents were looking for him in the hours leading up to the shooting. We’re now told they eventually called law enforcement to report that Crooks was missing, and they were worried,” a Fox News anchor reported on Wednesday. This revelation casts a damning light on the failure to act upon critical information that could have prevented the near-tragedy.

The unsettling detail of law enforcement encountering Crooks approximately 30 minutes before his attempt further complicates the narrative. Sources within the Secret Service claim that their policy allows a shooter to fire first, which ostensibly explains why Crooks managed to discharge eight rounds before being neutralized by snipers. This policy, if true, raises serious questions about the efficacy and logic of such protocols in ensuring the safety of high-profile individuals.

Bizarre Details Emerge

Further compounding the issue, CBS reported on Tuesday that Crooks had been seen using a range finder and was found with a transponder, likely intended to detonate explosives discovered in his vehicle. These bizarre details highlight the apparent lapses in surveillance and threat assessment by the authorities. The fact that a man with such suspicious equipment could get so close to the President speaks volumes about the need for an overhaul of current security measures.

The upcoming congressional hearing, where Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is expected to testify, promises to be a pivotal moment. Homeland Security’s alleged efforts to obstruct the investigation only add to the mounting frustration and demand for accountability. Director Cheatle will undoubtedly face tough questions about the lapses that allowed Crooks to get within striking distance of Trump.

The Congressional Hearing

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has expressed his concerns clearly, underscoring the gravity of the situation. “We are grateful to the brave Secret Service agents who acted quickly to protect President Trump after shots were fired and the American patriots who sought to help victims, but questions remain about how a rooftop within proximity to President Trump was left insecure,” Comer said in a press release announcing the hearing.

The call for answers from Director Cheatle about these glaring security failures is loud and clear. Americans are keen to understand what went wrong and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future. The hearing scheduled for July 22 is expected to shed light on these critical issues and pave the way for necessary reforms in the Secret Service’s approach to protecting national leaders.

WHOA. Thomas Matthew Crooks’ parents CALLED law enforcement BEFORE the Trump assassination attempt to warn them that he was “missing” and they were “worried” about him.

But wait, it gets worse…pic.twitter.com/Nd3qbv60NZ

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 17, 2024

Our Take

The mishandling of the Trump shooting incident exposes a worrying lack of preparedness and responsiveness within our security agencies. The fact that Thomas Crooks’ parents alerted authorities to his potential threat, only for it to be ignored, is a troubling testament to systemic failures. Allowing a shooter to fire first is an absurd policy that puts lives at unnecessary risk. This incident should be a wake-up call to overhaul our security protocols and ensure such lapses do not recur.