The local SWAT team assigned to help protect former President Donald Trump on July 13 had not had any contact with the Secret Service agents in charge of security before a would-be assassin opened fire, those officers told ABC News.
It was a critical part of the planning and communications failures that ended with a gunman killing one man, critically injuring two more and wounding Trump as he delivered a speech just days before accepting the Republican presidential nomination.
“We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service members whenever they arrived, and that never happened,” said Jason Woods, lead sharpshooter on the SWAT team in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pa.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“So I think that was probably a pivotal point, where I started thinking things were wrong because it never happened,” Woods said. “We had no communication.”
In their first public comments since the assassination attempt, the SWAT team on the ground that day and their supervisors spoke exclusively with ABC News Senior Investigative Correspondent Aaron Katersky. It is the first time any key law enforcement personnel on-site July 13 have offered first-hand accounts of what occurred.
They explained that they did what they could to try to thwart the attack but now have to live with the failure.
The episode last week led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. And, in the wake of the assassination attempt, a series of law-enforcement, internal and congressional probes have been announced – with communications and coordination a key focus of investigators’ attention.
The Secret Service, whose on-site team was supplemented as usual by local, county and state law-enforcement agencies, was ultimately responsible for security at the event.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined to respond directly to the comments from Woods and his colleagues. He said the agency “is committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that never happens again. That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI and other relevant investigations.”
Woods told ABC News he would have expected to have seen more coordination with the Secret Service and to have had greater communication between their team on the ground that day and the agents with Trump’s detail. The first communication between their group and the Secret Service agents on the scene that day, he said, was “not until after the shooting. By then, he said, “it was too late.”
Woods and the rest of the Beaver County sniper team were in position by mid-morning July 13, hours before Trump was set to take the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, outside Pittsburgh. The site is studded by a complex of warehouses, some clustered just outside the position where metal detectors were set up that day.
Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, sparked suspicion among the Beaver County SWAT team but was still able to evade law enforcement and take position on the roof of the very building where county snipers had been posted. Though their sniper had taken pictures of Crooks and had called into Command about the suspicious presence — within an hour Crooks opened fire on the former president less than 200 yards from the stage.
Beaver County Chief Detective Patrick Young, who runs the Emergency Services Unit and SWAT team, said collaboration is key when lives are on the line.
“I believe our team did everything humanly possible that day,” Young said. “We talk a lot on SWAT that we as individuals mean nothing until we come together as a team.”
Watch: ABC News’ exclusive first interview with the local SWAT team on the ground during Trump’s assassination attempt, airs in its entirety on “Good Morning America” on Monday, July 29, at 7 a.m. ET.
On the evening of October 15th, the local SWAT team was called to provide security at a Trump rally in downtown. Little did they know that they would be faced with a potentially deadly situation. As the rally was in full swing, a lone gunman attempted to assassinate the President.
The SWAT team members were quick to respond, springing into action and neutralizing the threat before any harm could come to the President or the attendees. In a recent press conference, the team provided a chilling account of the events that unfolded that night.
According to the team leader, they received a tip about a possible threat to the President’s safety just hours before the rally was set to begin. They immediately mobilized their forces and set up a perimeter around the venue. As the President took the stage to address the crowd, they noticed a suspicious figure lurking in the shadows.
Without hesitation, the SWAT team members moved in to apprehend the suspect. However, the gunman was quick to react, pulling out a weapon and firing shots in the direction of the President. The team members acted swiftly, returning fire and taking down the assailant before he could do any more harm.
In the aftermath of the incident, the SWAT team members were hailed as heroes for their quick thinking and bravery. They were able to prevent a tragedy from occurring and ensure the safety of everyone in attendance at the rally.
The team leader emphasized the importance of constant vigilance and preparedness in situations like these. “We train for scenarios like this so that we can act quickly and decisively when lives are on the line,” he said. “Our primary goal is always to protect and serve, and we will do whatever it takes to keep our community safe.”
As news of the attempted assassination spread, there was an outpouring of support and gratitude for the local SWAT team. Their dedication and professionalism in handling such a dangerous situation is a testament to their commitment to keeping the public safe.
In conclusion, the local SWAT team’s account of the attempted assassination at the Trump rally serves as a reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis. Their quick actions and bravery undoubtedly saved lives that night, and their efforts should be commended and celebrated.
