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Pennsylvania SWAT officer says team had no contact with Secret Service before Trump rally shooting

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Pennsylvania SWAT officer says team had no contact with Secret Service before Trump rally shooting


A police officer on a local tactical team assigned to former President Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, said there was no contact between their SWAT team and the U.S. Secret Service before Trump was shot.

“We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service members whenever they arrived,” the Beaver County team’s lead sharpshooter Jason Woods told ABC News. “That never happened.”

Woods told the outlet that the lack of communication was likely part of the critical failure in planning that ended with 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks wounding Trump, killing spectator Corey Compartore and injuring two others before he was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW GUNMAN EVADED SECURITY

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Donald Trump, with blood on his face, is surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is taken off the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.

“I think that was probably a pivotal point, where I started thinking things were wrong because it never happened,” he continued. “We had no communication.”

In the wake of the assassination attempt, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned, and a series of law enforcement and congressional probes have been announced.

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Woods told ABC News that he and his team were in position hours before Trump took the stage at the Butler Farm Show, but his team’s first communication with the Secret Service was “not until after the shooting.” By then, he said, it was “too late.”

TRUMP CAMP QUESTIONS WHY THEY WEREN’T ALERTED OF SUSPICIOUS PERSON PRIOR TO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

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Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rallyRepublican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally

Former President Trump reacts as multiple shots ring out during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.

WATCH: THOUSANDS DESCEND ON MICHIGAN TOWN FOR FIRST TRUMP RALLY SINCE FAILED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

One of the Beaver County snipers took pictures of Crooks and called into command about his suspicious presence at the venue – but the 20-year-old gunman was still able to position himself on the roof of the building, ABC reported.

Meanwhile, members of Trump’s Secret Service detail and his top advisers have questioned why they weren’t told that local police had spotted a suspicious person who turned out to be a would-be assassin.

Trump’s advisers thought that the sounds of shots, which they heard from a large white tent behind the stage, were fireworks, according to the Washington Post.

SECRET SERVICE WILL AMP UP SECURITY AT UPCOMING PENNSYLVANIA TRUMP RALLY DUE TO ‘COPYCAT’ FEARS: EXPERTS

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Two advisers, who were not named by the outlet, said they did not understand why the alert had not been passed on so that they could consider delaying Trump’s speech, a sentiment the GOP nominee echoed in an interview with Fox News.

“Nobody mentioned it. Nobody said there was a problem,” the former president said in an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters on Monday. “They could’ve said, ‘Let’s wait for 15 minutes, 20 minutes, five minutes,’ something. Nobody said — I think that was a mistake.”

Beaver County Chief Detective Patrick Young, who runs the Emergency Services Unit and SWAT team, said the group “did everything humanly possible that day.”

“We talk a lot on SWAT that we as individuals mean nothing until we come together as a team,” Young said.

In a statement, the U.S. Secret Service wrote that “as it relates to communications on that day, we are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that it never happens again.” 

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“That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI and other relevant investigations,” the statement continued.

Original article source: Pennsylvania SWAT officer says team had no contact with Secret Service before Trump rally shooting



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Franklin County golf course to remain open after threats of closure

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Franklin County golf course to remain open after threats of closure


FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — The South Mountain Golf Course was going to close its doors before the start of the 2026 season, but that no longer appears to be the case.

abc27 news reported last week when it learned that the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said that it would no longer lease the property to the George Family, who has owned the South Mountain Golf Course for over 60 years.

The department had previously said it no longer wanted to lease this land to the family golf course owners because they wanted to build a visitor center and restore land for trails and wildlife.

Following this announcement, many locals came out in support of the South Mountain Golf Course, and it seems to have made all the difference.

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On Sunday, owner Donny George posted on Facebook that the golf course had officially been approved for a 10-year lease – allowing the course to continue operations for years to come.

“A HUGE thank you to EVERY Representative, Senator and legislator who continued to fight for us and never gave up, when we were ready to quit,” South Mountain Golf Course shared. “We needed a village and we have the BIGGEST and BEST VILLAGE anyone could ask for.”

The Franklin County Commissioners also released a statement following this announcement, saying:

“We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has renewed the lease on the South Mountain Golf Course for another 10 years. We applaud the efforts of Rep. Chad Reichard and our other local legislators for fighting diligently to preserve this local treasure. We also extend our gratitude to Governor Shapiro for listening to the residents of Franklin County and ultimately changing course.”

The South Mountain Golf Course is located at 9632 Swamp Road South Mountain.

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This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available



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Holiday open house held at local alpaca farm

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Holiday open house held at local alpaca farm


MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A local alpaca farm held a holiday open house this weekend.

The Arcona Alpaca Farm invited the community to meet and learn about alpacas and shop local vendors at their farm in Cumberland County.

The store was selling warm winter alpaca apparel like scarves, gloves, and socks.

“It’s one of the warmest fibers that is used for clothing,” Carol Weezorak, of Arcona Alpacas, said. “Wool is also very insulating. Some people are allergic to wool and people tend not to be allergic to alpaca fiber, so it’s a great fiber, It’s a very soft fiber, a very fine fiber, so it’s great for weaving, knitting.”

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A donation was made to the Wounded Warriors charity from the bake sale at the event.



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Causes revealed of two Saturday fires in Harrisburg

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Causes revealed of two Saturday fires in Harrisburg


HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Fire officials have revealed the causes of two fires in Harrisburg that happened in the uptown area overnight Saturday and again Saturday afternoon.

Just before 2:15 a.m., Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to Radnor Street for a reported fire that began in the walls.

Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline says the cause was due to an electrical malfunction.

No injuries were reported, and it is unclear if there are any displacements.

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Video shows where that first fire took place overnight Saturday, then just after 4 p.m. that afternoon, crews were dispatched to another fire on Lexington and Radnor streets, just a walk away.

Enterline says this fire started in the third-floor bedroom and was also caused by an electrical malfunction.

He says no injuries were reported.



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