 fire trucks and police vehicles filled the parking lot outside the building the 20 year old man who tried to assassinate trump searched for public appearances that trump and president joe biden were set to make local officers spotted thomas matthew crooks acting strangely before trump took the stage and notified the secret service who lost track of crooks 20 minutes later before the shooting a sniper spotted crooks and took his picture then two officers began to look for him as secret service allowed trump to take the stage