Butler DA: Local officer shot at, possibly hit Trump’s would-be assassin
A member of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit fired at and may have hit Thomas Matthew Crooks, who officials say tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump on July 13 at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Connoquenessing Township.
District Attorney Richard Goldinger said on Thursday that the unit member, who he did not identify, may have hit Crooks, but that has not been officially confirmed.
“It was reported that (Crooks) had a reaction, but (the ESU officer) did not fire the kill shot,” Goldinger said.
He said the officer was inside the rally venue when he fired, but Goldinger does not know exactly where he was stationed.
Goldinger believes the shot came from a high-powered rifle that can hit a target from a distance.
“I believe the shooter had already started firing, and that’s why they responded,” he said.
He said members of the county Emergency Services Unit, which is a tactical team similar to a SWAT team, were staged at various locations around the venue on Saturday.
Goldinger did not know if the officer had to get an OK to fire, or if any other officers at the rally fired at Crooks as well.
