Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania by a gunman named Thomas Crooks. Crooks had flown a drone over the rally site a few hours before the attack, using it to plan his assassination attempt. The drone, made by DJI, provided Crooks with an overhead view of the rally site. Crooks was killed by the Secret Service after he shot Trump.
The use of the drone over the rally site highlights a security failure that allowed the gunman to get close enough to shoot the former president. The recovery of a drone and drone equipment from Crooks’ vehicle suggests premeditation. The motive behind the attempted assassination remains unknown and under investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General has launched three probes into the Secret Service following the shooting, including an examination of how the Secret Service secured the political campaign event in Butler. House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised a Congressional investigation, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has been asked to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a hearing.
Investigations are ongoing to determine how Crooks was able to carry out the attack and what security measures may have failed. The use of drones for surveillance and possible attacks raises concerns about security protocols and the need for enhanced measures to protect public figures at events.
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