Butler Township police release body camera footage of Trump rally shooting

BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Butler Township police have released body camera footage from the shooting at former President Donald Trump’s rally in July.

>>>> Latest on the Trump rally shooting in Butler County

The shooting killed one person and injured three others, including the former president.

“Why were we not on the roof?” has been a huge question ever since the July 13 shooting, and it’s a question many officers can be heard asking just minutes after the shooting took place.

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In 12 separate videos from the Butler Township Police Department, officers’ body and dash cameras help piece together the chaotic moments. Not all of the video has audio, depending on when the cameras were activated.

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At 6:10 and 50 seconds, a Butler Township officer is hoisted up to the roof. Five seconds later, he drops down when Crooks points the gun at him and seconds after that is when the first shots are fired in the direction of the stage.

An officer can be overheard saying, “He’s got a book bag! An AR, laying down, book bag next to him!”

The FBI says three shots were fired first, then a second volley of five more shots before Crooks was shot and killed. The FBI has said eight shell casings were found near Crooks’ body.

Butler natives are glad the videos are being made public.

“It helps the investigation for the people, that it’s not a cover-up or anything. Be transparent,” said Jeff Patrick of Butler.

“Our township police and our city police are wonderful. We love them and respect everything they do here so this is heartbreaking,” Christina Voit, also of Butler, said.

Rep. Mike Kelly, who is a Butler native, was at the rally and is the head of a Trump shooting task force. Channel 11 reached out to the representative about the release of the videos. We’re told Kelly’s office is aware of the footage and that they’re reviewing it.

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