Police Officer Reported Man Carrying Range-Finder Outside Trump Rally 30 Minutes before Assassination Attempt

A local police officer reported spotting a man carrying a ranger-finder “in or just outside” the venue for President Donald Trump’s fateful rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania on Saturday night, according to reports.

The law enforcement officer reported the sighting of the man 30 minutes before a gunman opened fire on Trump during an assassination attempt.

The officer reported the sighting to state police, law enforcement sources reportedly told Fox News.

He took a photo, and there was a discussion about whether what he was carrying was a pair of binoculars to try and see the rally better.

A few minutes into Trump’s remarks, a would-be assassin identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, according to authorities.

Crooks wounded Trump, killed a 50-year-old father of two, and wounded two more spectators before a Secret Service counter-sniper neutralized the threat, according to authorities.

Trump narrowly avoided death when the bullet pierced his ear.

It was not immediately clear how long Crooks was on the roof.

However, sources say he was initially seen without the gun about 30 minutes before the attack.

State police have yet to comment on the source’s version of events.

Several witnesses have also come forward in interviews and videos on social media claiming they reported seeing an armed man before the shooting started, as THAIMBC News reported.

Bill Gage, an expert on active shooter response who retired from the Secret Service after 13 years with the agency, including 6 ½ as a member of the counter-assault team, argues that agents couldn’t have taken out the gunman, despite being aware of the threat.

“Just because someone is on a roof doesn’t mean the [counter-sniper] guys can just open fire,” Gage said.

“They operate under Graham v Connor use of force rules.

“They would have had to perceive a threat.”

Eventually, however, Crooks made it up onto the roof with a DPMS AR-15 5.56 rifle, which authorities recovered at the scene.

It had been purchased legally by his father more than a decade ago, according to law enforcement sources.

Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe said in interviews with local media that a county deputy confronted Crooks moments before the shooting.

The deputy ducked for cover when he peered above the edge of the roof and the killer turned the gun on him.

“The officer had both hands up on the roof to get up onto the roof, [and] never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully and smartfully, the officer let go,” he told KDKA-TV.

Security outside the Secret Service’s secured perimeter is typically handled by state and local law enforcement.

The FBI announced earlier Monday that it had broken into Crooks’ phone and was examining the device for evidence.

Authorities were also still in search of a motive.

They said it appeared that Crooks had acted as a lone wolf, but the investigation was ongoing.

While little is known about Crooks’ motivation, it has been confirmed that he was a Democrat donor.

Nearly 100 people, including witnesses and members of law enforcement, had been interviewed so far, officials said Monday.

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