The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13, has left our community and the entire nation with many questions.

People are rightly concerned about how 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to climb onto the roof of the AGR International building with an AR-15-style rifle and fire multiple shots into the crowd at the campaign rally being held at the Butler Farm Show grounds. Crooks killed 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, seriously wounded David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, and struck Trump’s ear.

The assassination attempt in Connoquenessing Township was the most serious since 1981, when John Hinckley Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan.

Many people have questioned how security was handled at the rally, with some asking why coolers and other items that supposedly were prohibited were allowed in. And multiple media outlets have reported on the number of times Crooks was spotted on Saturday and how he’d raised suspicion.

There have already been calls for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheadle over the shooting. And Congressional hearings are being prepared.

In today’s edition of the Butler Eagle, we learned that two local law enforcement officials will be involved in those hearings.

Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., announced Wednesday, July 17, that Sheriff Mike Slupe and Lt. Matthew Pearson of the Butler Township Police Department have been asked to testify “to examine the facts and circumstances” surrounding the incident.

Their testimony, along with that of the people responsible for planning and managing the security of the rally are going to be essential to understanding what happened and how to prevent another incident in the future.

It can be tempting to rush to judgment in a situation like this. Emotions are high and it’s human nature to want to find someone to hold responsible.

But it’s important to let the investigation and hearings take their course before coming to a conclusion. That is how we can move forward, prevent another tragedy and heal our community.

— JK