PITTSBURGH — Channel 9′s sister station -- WPXI Channel 11 News in Pittsburgh -- exclusively confirmed Tuesday that Thomas Crooks was spotted by police hanging around the American Glass Research complex more than an hour before the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.
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Multiple law enforcement sources described the security operation in detail Tuesday, directly contradicting public statements from the United States Secret Service’s director.
According to law enforcement sources in multiple counties in western Pennsylvania, there were two sniper teams set up near the building where Crooks fired from Saturday evening.
But in direct contrast to comments made by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, there were no local police in the same building where Crooks made it on the roof.
Read: Trump assassination attempt: New details emerge in shooting
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surround by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he leaves the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
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Election 2024 Trump World Reacts A woman buys a copy of the British Mail on Sunday newspaper at a newsagents in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024, showing the reaction to events at former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Donald Trump's campaign says he is "fine" after what law enforcement officials are treating as an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
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Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Trump shooting aftermath In response to the attempted assassination of Former President Donald Trump, retired U.S. Secret Service leaders from Metro Atlanta reviewed video footage to explain what viewers saw and what happens next.
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WATCH: Moment former President Trump whisked off stage following shooting at rally WATCH: Moment former President Trump whisked off stage following shooting at rally
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APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Law enforcement officers gather at the campaign rally site for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Trump's campaign said in a statement that the former president was "fine" after a shooting at his rally in Butler (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump U.S. Secret Service agents converge to cover Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
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APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump People take cover as U.S. Secret Service agents surround Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump U.S. Secret Service agents converge to cover Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Shots fired at Trump Rally, Donald Trump rushed off stage Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
EEUU-ELECCIÓN-TRUMP Civiles se cubren al tiempo que agentes del Servicio Secreto de Estados Unidos rodean al expresidente Donald Trump durante un acto de campaña, el sábado 13 de julio de 2024, en Butler, Pensilvania. (AP Foto/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surround by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump waves from the stage as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump U.S. Secret Service agents respond as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded on stage by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents on stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is helped into a vehicle at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage by U.S. Secret Service at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump People hug after Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd
Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd
Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd
Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd
Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci/AP)
Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd
Channel 11′s Nicole Ford also obtained exclusive photos showing the cellphone and transmitter device discovered next to Crooks’ body moments after a Secret Service sniper fatally shot him.
On Monday, WPXI reported that pictures of Crooks had been taken by local police at least 26 minutes before shots were fired and sent up the command chain.
On Tuesday, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to Ford that Crooks was spotted by police with a range finder before that second photo was taken.
Photos: Trump says he was shot in the ear during rally
According to multiple sources, when Trump took the stage Saturday, Crooks was still on the ground and had not yet climbed the roof of the building.
Channel 11 News confirmed Crooks was only on the roof with a gun fewer than seven minutes when he was confronted by a Butler Township police officer.
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