Northeast

Trump assassination attempt: Suspicious persons common, but police testimony raises new questions

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2024

Trump assassination attempt: Suspicious persons common, but police testimony raises new questions

PITTSBURGH – After Pennsylvania police leaders revealed there were at least two other suspicious individuals besides would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks spotted at the July 13 Trump rally, experts tell Fox News Digital that reports of “suspicious” or “unusual” people at Secret Service events are common.

Pennsylvania’s State Police commissioner, Col. Christopher Paris, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee this week that at least two other suspicious individuals were identified at the rally before Crooks launched his attempt on the life of former President Trump.

Actual “threats” are rare, and the gunman is believed to have acted alone. But the state police commissioner’s testimony raised new questions about different aspects of the attempted assassination of Trump.

TRUMP SHOOTER WAS NOT ONLY SUSPICIOUS PERSON AT BUTLER RALLY: PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh field office, left, speaks as Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris looks on during a press conference at a police station in Butler, Pennsylvania, after former President Trump was injured when shots were fired during a campaign rally on July 13. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

Paris told lawmakers that before the deadly rally, he asked the Secret Service about a building where Crooks would later climb up and open fire.

“We were told that Butler [Emergency Services Unit] ESU was responsible for that area, by several Secret Service agents on that walk-through,” he said. County leaders have disputed that statement.

Legislators spent days grilling law enforcement leaders on the rally’s security failures and several have visited the scene, about an hour’s drive north of Pittsburgh, in person. Within days of testifying Monday, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned.

WATCH: Butler Township commissioner says Trump rally police were ‘strictly for traffic control’

Paris testified in front of the House Homeland Security Committee this week that at least two other people had been deemed suspicious in addition to Crooks. The would-be assassin became “even more suspicious” after authorities saw him with a range finder, he said.

“The [counter-sniper] teams were not focused in that area because they believed that the building’s rooftop/roof access was covered. It wasn’t till he started firing that they then turn their attention over there.”
— Bill Gage, retired Secret Service agent

He was also wearing a backpack and moving around outside the perimeter, prompting police to keep an eye on him. Officers approached but he ran off.

“There was a text thread that was going — they took a photo of him at some point when he utilized the range finder,” he told lawmakers. “The suspicion was heightened… I know from an interview that was immediately relayed in the command post to the Secret Service.”

TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Thomas Matthew Crooks is alleged to be the shooter in the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

A person can be flagged as suspicious or unusual for a number of reasons, and the Secret Service has investigators in the field to rapidly assess such an individual, experts say.

“‘Suspicious person’? Not uncommon. Very low bar. ‘Genuine threat’? Much rarer, and Crooks progressed to the latter,” said Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector.

Crooks was initially seen without a weapon, so authorities deemed him suspicious at that time, but not a full-blown threat, Paris testified.

“They were out looking for him when he began shooting. They were just a few seconds too late.”
— Bill Gage, retired Secret Service agent

“Every single event I worked, which is thousands, there were suspicious people and events that have to be investigated,” said Bill Gage, a retired Secret Service agent and a consultant at Safehaven Security Group.

Authorities approach the suspected gunman where he fell after the U.S. Secret Service returned fire after an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

WHISTLEBLOWER REVEALS WHY TRUMP RALLY OFFICER ASSIGNED TO SHOOTER’S PERCH MOVED

Police and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) also may have differing definitions of what exactly constitutes a suspicious person, he said.

“Why did the director of PSP [Pennsylvania State Police] label them as suspicious? Did they approach an officer and ask for Trump’s autograph? A local might think that’s suspicious, but to USSS it’s kinda normal,” he said. “Or was someone sort of the proverbial long trench coat on a hot day?”

Gage said that while Paris was forthcoming in his testimony, the answers he gave raise entirely new questions.

“Crooks ‘ran off’ from the officer when confronted? That’s very odd behavior at an event,” he said. “Running from the police and you have a backpack? Was that info relayed to the command post? What was the command post told?”

A law enforcement officer reacts during former President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Gage also wanted to know more about the “text thread” that law enforcement officers were said to be using to communicate regarding Crooks’ initial sighting and disappearance.

OFFICER REPORTED MAN AT TRUMP RALLY WITH RANGE-FINDER 30 MINS BEFORE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: SOURCE

“And that Crooks was on the roof for three minutes? Three minutes is an eternity for a sniper,” he said. “The CS teams were not focused in that area because they believed that the building’s rooftop/roof access was covered. It wasn’t till he started firing that they then turn their attention over there.”

Former President Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

For Mauro, the burning question is about where county personnel were stationed as the Secret Service and local partners tried to track Crooks down once action was deemed necessary.

“Did anyone remain in that second floor observation post or not?” he pondered, referring to a vantage point near where Crooks opened fire.

Releasing the operational plan to congressional investigators would help clear up lingering confusion about who was placed where, and why the security breach was allowed to happen, he added.

During her own testimony this week, Cheatle confirmed Crooks had been spotted outside the secure perimeter prior to the shooting and said authorities had been alerted to reports of a suspicious person “somewhere between two and five times.” At another point in her testimony, she said she believed Crooks acted alone.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Crooks was elevated from a suspicious person to an actual threat “seconds before the gunfire started,” she added. Cheatle later stepped down after bipartisan calls for her resignation.

FBI Director Christopher Wray also testified on Capitol Hill, revealing some of the information investigators have been able to glean off of Crooks’ phone and laptop.

Crooks was researching prior presidential assassinations — including by searching Google for the phrase, “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” — on the same day he registered to attend the rally.

“Starting somewhere around July 6 or so, he became very focused on former President Trump and this rally,” he said.

In a statement, the FBI later said the investigation into Crooks was a top priority.

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“Since the day of the attack, the FBI has been consistent and clear that the shooting was an attempted assassination of former President Trump which resulted in his injury, as well as the death of a heroic father and the injuries of several other victims,” a spokesperson said. “This was a heinous attack and the FBI is devoting enormous resources to learn everything possible about the shooter and what led to his act of violence. The FBI’s Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to examine evidence from the scene, including bullet fragments, and the investigation remains ongoing.”

While the 20-year-old failed to kill the GOP presidential candidate, he did kill a bystander named Corey Comperatore, 50, and wound at least two others in the audience, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. Trump, who ducked for cover and was later pictured with blood on the right side of his head, said he had been struck in the ear.

Trump told Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” this week that the Secret Service allowed him to walk out on stage without warning him there was anyone suspicious lurking on the outskirts of the rally.

Fox News’ Christina Coulter and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

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Pittsburg, PA

Can Pittsburgh Handle an NFL Draft Crowd?

Published

16 minutes ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Can Pittsburgh Handle an NFL Draft Crowd?

Along with the best football prospects the season has to offer, the NFL Draft promises to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Pittsburgh from April 23 to 25.

If the turnout approaches that of Detroit in 2023, those descending on the North Shore and Downtown could reach 700,000 over the three days. For reference, that’s more than 10 times Acrisure Stadium’s 68,400 seats, and more than double the city’s roughly 308,000 residents.

Where will they stay? How will they get around?

Event planners at VisitPittsburgh say the city is up to the task.

“They picked us out of several cities because we have the infrastructure,” said Perry Ivery, general manager of the Oaklander Hotel and board chair of VisitPittsburgh.

Last year, Wisconsin’s Green Bay comfortably accommodated a unique visitor count three times its 106,000 population, according to residents and local leaders.

Rooms Enough?

Ivery said there are some 26,000 hotel rooms across the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, the bulk of which are concentrated in and around Downtown.

Even if each room holds two to four people, the total still appears to fall short. But Ivery said many attendees will be locals, whether from Pittsburgh, surrounding counties or neighboring states within a day’s drive.

Plus, a high proportion of out-of-town guests could have Pittsburgh roots and a free bed to claim in a family home, he added.

There are also around 3,500 units available for short-term rental in and around Pittsburgh through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

“We’re all working together to make sure everybody has a great hospitality experience in the City of Pittsburgh,” Ivery said.

Infrastructure from roads to parking, and bus and light rail routes, will also feel the strain.

Strain on the Train?

Pittsburgh Regional Transit normally services around 100,000 riders on an average weekday, across its entire network. Spokesperson Adam Brandolph said the agency is prepared for the transit demands of what’s expected to be the biggest event the city has hosted.

“We’re confident that we’ll be able to meet the needs of visitors to the draft as well as daily riders,” he said, noting “no major closures or detours” are planned for the event other than the University Line project, which may see less construction during that week.

Brandolph said the agency is finalizing plans and intends to make more information public soon.

A spokesperson for VisitPittsburgh said a local committee is working with a range of stakeholders including transportation agencies, engineering partners and local government “to deliver a coordinated and comprehensive plan for the region.”

“This includes collaboration with public transit agencies on adjusted service plans, clearly marked detour routes, designated rideshare zones and proactive communication with residents, businesses and commuters,” said Alex Kenzakoski, communications director for VisitPittsburgh.

“Our shared goal is to minimize disruption, keep the region moving and make travel as predictable and seamless as possible for both fans and locals.”

Kenzakoski said details on road closures, transit adjustments and travel guidance will be made known ahead of the draft, and encouraged fans to download the NFL OnePass app for transportation information and updates.

Ivery said a successful draft week execution could line Pittsburgh up for future hosting prospects.

“There’re going to be folks that come in that have never been to Pittsburgh … This is a case to showcase our town, and our hotels,” he said.

“We’re friendly, we have grit, we’re very excited to showcase that we can do large-scale activities.”

This story first appeared in Pittsburgh’s Public Source. Read the original here.

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Connecticut

Connecticut Launches New Era for Community Hospital Care – UConn Today

Published

1 hour ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut Launches New Era for Community Hospital Care – UConn Today

Marked by a ceremonial ribbon cutting and attended by Governor Ned Lamont, state legislators, Waterbury officials, and community leaders, UConn Health celebrated the acquisition of Waterbury Hospital which as of today is now the UConn Health Waterbury Hospital.

“This is a defining moment for healthcare in Connecticut,” said Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health Community Network. “We now have the opportunity to take the award -winning academic quality and service of UConn Health and share it with the wonderful employees, doctors and community of Waterbury.”

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont described the initiative as a forward-looking investment in the future of healthcare access across Connecticut.

“Connecticut is leading with innovation,” said Connecticut Governor Lamont. “The UConn Health Community Network reflects a proactive approach to strengthening community-based care by connecting it directly to the capabilities of our state’s public academic medical center. What begins in Waterbury today, represents a new model designed to expand opportunity, access, and excellence for communities statewide.”

In addition to UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, the Network includes UConn Health Community Network Medical Group and UConn Health Waterbury Health at Home. The model preserves each member’s local identity and will grow thoughtfully over time to improve quality, expand access, and reduce the total cost of care.

“This reflects a bold step forward in how we think about healthcare in Connecticut,” said John Driscoll, Chair of the UConn Health Board of Directors. “Today we celebrate the beginning of a new approach to community-based care. We move forward with clarity of purpose and shared commitment to serve our communities better together.”

Comptroller Sean Scanlon highlighted the significance of the model for the long-term evolution of healthcare delivery in Connecticut.

“This partnership represents thoughtful leadership at a pivotal time for healthcare,” said Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon. “By aligning community hospitals with academic medicine, Connecticut is building a modern framework that positions our healthcare system to meet the needs of patients today and into the future.”

“Hosting this celebration on our campus is deeply meaningful for our staff, physicians and the families we serve,” said Deborah Weymouth, President of UConn Health Waterbury Hospital. “Waterbury’s legacy of care continues, and we are tremendously proud to have a strong partner who is deeply committed to our community and help lead this next chapter for healthcare.”

Welcome UConn Health Waterbury Hospital!

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Maine

Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition

For a lot of people throughout Maine, there’s some built up frustration that they’ve just been keeping inside.

That frustration can come in a lot of different forms. From finances to relationships to the world around you.

So it makes plenty of sense that a rage room opened in Portland, Maine, where people can let some of that frustration out.

It’s called Mayhem and people have been piling in to smash, crush and do dastardly things to inanimate objects that had no idea what was coming.

But Mayhem has realized not everyone is down with swinging a sledgehammer. So they’ve decided to cook up something new.

Mayhem Creating ‘Scream Room’ at Their Space in Portland, Maine

Perhaps the thought of swinging a baseball bat and destroying a glass vase brings you joy. The thought of how sore your body will be after that moment makes you less excited.

Mayhem Portland has heard you loud and clear and is developing a new way to get the rage out. By just screaming.

Mayhem is working on opening their very first scream room. It’s exactly what you think it is, a safe place to spend some time just screaming all of the frustration out.

There isn’t an official opening date set yet but it’s coming soon along with pricing.