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Trump shooter's assassination attempt shocks former FBI task force officer: 'Blown away'
A veteran Nevada law enforcement officer, who served in the elite FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, said he was left “blown away” after a barrage of gunfire broke out at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
Ashton Packe, a retired Las Vegas detective, shared an inside look into the investigation of the assassination attempt in Butler.
“I was initially just blown away,” he said. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing was actually happening because we put so much faith and belief in the system of the Secret Service to protect former presidents, current presidents and their families.”
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Republican candidate former President Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
Packe applauded the U.S. Secret Service personnel who quickly surrounded the former president without hesitation.
“I think I counted less than three seconds from the initial shot to an agent throwing himself on President Trump’s body,” he said. “I’ve analyzed the video. I’ve gone through it several times myself.”
I was initially just blown away…
Former President Trump was hit in the ear in an apparent assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally on Saturday. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
The law enforcement veteran said the suspect, who was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was “amateur hour.”
“As far as the suspect is concerned, it was amateur hour,” he said. “Anyone you know with an AR-15 rifle or a M4 variant is very effective within 150 yards of where that shot was taken.
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“And so he failed at this, as I’m sure he’s failed at many things in his life,” Packe said.
Former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore pictured with his daughters in an undated family photo. Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday struck and killed Comperatore in the crossfire. Secret Service agents returned fire, killing Crooks. (Helen Comperatore/Facebook)
Corey Comperatore was attending the rally when he was killed in the gunfire. Packe praised Comperatore’s quick decision to use his body as a shield against the bullets flying toward his wife and daughter.
“It’s always about the victims. There was a victim that died there yesterday,” he said. “A man who was there protecting his daughter through his body when the shots rang out, just like the Secret Service threw their bodies on President Trump.”
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“And that was the job of that father, and so I think we need to talk about victims and the amazing lives that they lived and not the unfortunate, horrible decisions of one individual,” he said.
Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Packe said that he thinks that Americans will begin to realize in the coming days the severity of the attack on the former president.
“I don’t think a lot of Americans realize just how bad last night could have been, and in the weeks following could have been, had Mr. Trump had been killed,” he said.
The law enforcement veteran said that his hope is that this attack would prompt the country to “come together.”
“It’s my hope that we as a country can come together and take a deep breath and realize that, you know, most of us are a little left. Most people are in the middle or slightly right or slightly left,” he said.
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ELK PARK — A father and his four sons reported missing near Elk Park were found safe after their vehicle became disabled, according to Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester.
They were found walking along a roadway around 5 p.m. north of Maney Lake, according to Lester.
Rescuers from 15-90 Search and Rescue, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were able to reach the group and transport them to safety.
“We are very happy that everyone is safe. We appreciate the hard work of the rescuers and the coordination among Jefferson, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Powell, and Silver Bow counties,” Lester said in a statement.
(original report) Law enforcement and search and rescue teams are searching for a missing father and his four sons near Elk Park, just off Interstate 15, after the group failed to return from a fishing trip north of Butte.
The group has been missing for nearly 24 hours. Three of the four boys are Type 1 diabetics in need of insulin.
WATCH: Law enforcement and search and rescue teams near Butte, Montana are searching for a missing father and four sons. Three of the boys are Type 1 diabetics in urgent need of insulin
Search expands for missing Butte family as friend reveals 3 of 4 boys are Type 1 diabetics
Courtney Mosier, a family friend who drove from Helena to assist in the search, said the urgency of the situation is critical.
“There (are) four little boys that range from ages 14 to 10. Three of the little boys are Type 1 diabetics. They need their insulin. They need their sugar. They need to be found immediately,” Mosier said.
Mosier has known the father, Paul Klimpel, her whole life and said his outdoor experience is a reassuring factor.
“Paul is an avid outdoorsman. Like I said, I’ve known him my whole life. If the truck broke down, Paul would be able to fix it. So, luckily they’re with a really, really, really good adult. We just need to find these children,” Mosier said.
Meagan Thompson
According to a press release from Butte Sheriff Ed Lester, police are searching for the group in the Brown’s Gulch, American Gulch, Flume Gulch, and Bernice area north of Butte. Officials are also searching the Homestake and Delome Lake areas.
The last known location of the group came from a cell phone ping near Maney Lake.
“The last ping from one of the little boys’ cell phone was up near Maney Lake so that’s where the family is at currently right now,” Mosier said.
Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff’s Office Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff’s Office
Anyone who spots a white Ford Ranger flatbed pickup is encouraged to call law enforcement at 406-497-1120.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
NV Energy has issued a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) watch for multiple regions in northern and eastern Nevada, warning customers of potential proactive power shutoffs this weekend due to elevated fire weather conditions.
In the Carson City and Genoa areas, a temporary power outage is possible on Saturday, June 27, from approximately 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The impacted zones include South Carson City/Jacks Valley and South Carson City/Clear Creek.
Meanwhile, a separate 24-hour PSOM watch has been issued further east for parts of Elko County. Residents in East Elko and Spring Creek could experience proactive outages beginning Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m. through Sunday, June 28, at 10 a.m.
NV Energy officials stated they are actively monitoring local fire weather and will provide regular status updates to affected customers. The utility provider noted that any customers currently experiencing a power outage outside of these designated PSOM zones should report it directly via NV Energy’s online Outage Center.
The Canyon Venado Fire has grown to 852 acres east of Clines Corners and crews say wind farms in the area are threatened.
CLINES CORNERS, N.M. – The Canyon Venado Fire has grown to 852 acres east of Clines Corners and crews say wind farms in the area are threatened.
The fire is burning just east of Clines Corners, south of Interstate 40.
It forced the closure of eastbound Interstate 40 at Clines Corners on Tuesday night. I-40 reopened Tuesday night. I-40 is back open but smoke still affects visibility.
“We’re on the side of I-40 so drivers have to be pretty cautious. As far as our establishment itself we’re pretty isolated by the freeway itself as a nice fire break,” said Lincoln Tarantino, Clines Corner general manager.
The fire has burned around 852 acres, up from just 20 at this time Monday.
Crews say the fire is not contained and wind farms in the area are threatened.
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