On July 13th, Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The shooting took place at one of Trump’s rallies in Pennsylvania at around 6:00 pm. As Trump was pointing to a graphic displayed on a large screen, three shots were fired. Trump’s right ear was grazed, and he crouched down as members of the Secret Service shielded him. Another five shots rang out into the crowd before local police and Secret Service snipers killed the shooter. Sadly, a spectator named Cory Comperatore was killed, and two others were in critical condition.
The Secret Service is blamed for the lack of security at the Trump rally. The shooter was approximately 150 yards from the stage and he had been reported to local police by spectators. The Secret Service was scrutinized for not placing a sniper on the roof, or responding quickly to the calls to local police from spectators. Because of the failure, Director Cheatle of the Secret Service stepped down from her position.
Recently, another attempt on the President’s life was made only two months after the shooting in Pennsylvania. The shooter was Ryan Wesley Routh; he was camping outside of a gold course in West Palm Beach where the president was golfing. Secret Service agents spotted the possible shooter and opened fire, stopping Ryan Wesley Routh from injuring the President.
The two attempted assassinations have tested the Secret Service and have led people to question the security of the President and the stability of the United States.
