THIS is the shock moment Donald Trump's supporters were recorded warning police that a gunman was taking up position before shots rang out.
Footage caught one rally-goer speaking to an officer just metres away from the roof where Thomas Crooks shot at the president from.
Gunman Crooks got into position after climbing a ladder and bear crawling across a roof to his vantage point.
New footage taken at 6.10pm on Saturday shows one person talking to a police officer with the pair looking at the building that Crooks was on.
Eyewitnesses also said that
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe confirmed that a local police officer did attempt to confront Crooks on the rooftop but he returned down the latter when the rifle was pointed on him.
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Slupe said: "All I know is the officer had both hands on the roof to get up on the roof, never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully and smartly, the officer let go."
Crooks was able to get off between six and eight shots at the president, reports said, with one hitting him in the ear.
A police sniper then shot Crooks dead just moments after the wannabe assassin hit 45 in the ear.
Speaking to the BBC, eyewitness Greg said he saw a man crawling onto a nearby roof with a rifle as Trump spoke to supporters onstage at the Pennsylvania rally.
He said minutes later the man remained in prime position and fired a shocking five times before Secret Service agents "blew his head off".
Greg told the BBC he saw Crooks "bear-crawling up the roof of a building" just 50 feet away from the crowd.
"He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle," he said.
"We’re pointing at him, the police are down there running around on the ground – we’re like ‘hey man there’s a guy on the roof with a rifle’ and the police did not know what was going on."
2024 hopeful Trump later said he felt a bullet rip through his skin as it pierced the upper part of his right ear.
He thanked law enforcement for their swift response to the gunfire, offering his condolences to the families of those affected.
"I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania," Trump wrote on Truth Social hours after the shooting.
"Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
"It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.
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"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
"Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
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