Screenshot of Thomas Matthew Crooks just prior to being neutralized by Secret Service snipers.

In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Trump, one thing happened that didn’t surprise me at all: people calling the shooter a “sniper.” There was also plenty of other dumb stuff said by “experts” on social media and in the media, as usual, like saying that an AR-15 is especially deadly at long range, that it takes special training to handle the round and that Eagle Scout is an elite paramilitary group.

Yes, I stole that last one from a movie, but you have to admit that it’s an equally dumb statement that would have fit right in.

In this post, I want to explain why it’s foolish for media figures and others to call a shooter like this a “sniper,” and that it could inspire copycats through false glorification of what was really an evil act of mostly dumb luck.

What’s A Sniper?

Before I get into the definition I’d use for a sniper, let’s first get the whole dictionary definition out of the way first:

Let’s break this down into its elements:

  • Shoots from a hiding place
  • Usually accurately
  • Usually from long range

As we’ve seen in videos, the guy did not shoot from a hiding place. People saw him take a ladder, climb onto the roof and then take aim. Nothing about what he was doing was hidden. The only reason he didn’t get shot right away is because it took some time (too much time) for police to notice him and adequately respond, as well as for Secret Service counter-snipers to know that he wasn’t one of the cops that was supposed to be up there. He wasn’t hidden at all and only got shots off due to luck that lined up with incompetence.

So, no, not a sniper, but let’s keep going. Accuracy and long range are important to the definition of a sniper, even if they’re not strictly necessary in common parlance.

When it comes to accuracy, you’d have to accept some very low standards to miss a head-sized target at 125 yards with a rifle. But, I’ll shelf this element because we aren’t sure whether it was bad fundamentals, distraction from a cop who went onto the roof to see what was going on that messed him up or Trump merely moving his head enough in the time to literally dodge the bullet. For all we know, he could have made that shot under other circumstances.

But, it’s indisputable that the shot was not at long range. I’d be impressed with a 125ish yard shot from a pistol, but anyone with much practice can hit a 4-inch target at 125 yards with an AR all day. It requires no special skill or even much dedication to get good enough to make a shot at that short range.

Really, I have a hard time considering anything under 300 yards to be long range, because that’s within chip shot range. For a given target size and a given zero, there’s a set of ranges that require no consideration for ballistics. You can aim straight at the target and still hit it regardless.

For a 6-inch target, XM193 ammunition and a 50-yard zero, anything from zero to almost 300 yards will still hit somewhere on the target. This means that the maximum point blank range, meaning the shooter doesn’t need to hold high or low to make the shot and aiming for a head-sized target for that gun is about 300 yards. To underscore, if you take aim at the center of target and have good fundamentals, you can hit the target without adjusting aim.

So, I’d argue that 125 yards, falling far short of 300 yards, is not long range. It requires nothing but knowledge of basic shooting fundamentals to achieve. You don’t have to get the math wrong. You don’t have to misjudge anything under a 30 MPH wind, either. Expert mistakes don’t have to be made; only rookie mistakes must be made to miss this shot.

When we call shooters like this snipers we risk glorifying what they did far beyond any deserved recognition of skill. A number of dumb mistakes had to happen by both the law enforcement presence there as well as by the shooter for even the missed shot to happen. Making such an unstable fool sound cool in any way risks encouraging other unstable fools to try it, and probably only get themselves, and in this case, other innocent people, killed or wounded.

Instead, we should both take this threat seriously while also making it clear that it was an amateurish attempt unworthy of any real recognition.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

85 COMMENTS

  1. Yeah, I can go with that. All of the famous snipers were exquisite marksmen (and women).

    • At first sight some in the crowd determined the perp was a bad actor. The roof appears to be a 1/12 pitch which is much more flat and safe to be on than the roof the two Secret Service Snipers were on. It was a complete and total failure to protect DJT and attendees. The unqualified director of the Secret Service needs to resign. And last but not least, I would have given my eye teeth to take the perp out.

  2. Getting the media and non gun public to suddenly acquire the detailed knowledge and lingo in the article is just dumb. Hasn’t happened ever. Won’t happen ever.

    • Not just lingo. One article claimed he bought a “large” amount of ammo right before the shooting (50 rounds) apparently oblivious to the fact that cheap .223 comes in 50 round boxes.

  3. A few years back this website repeatedly refer to mass shooters a ‘spree shooters’ — those are two different terms of art.

    • When I go elk hunting and put one down with a single shot from a hiding spot over 300 yds away, I just thought I was a successful hunter. I never knew until now that I was really a sniper.

  5. Stop saying “neutralized”.

    Joke 1 – looking a the photos SS “Counter sniper team” had 2x shooters and no spotter? WTF

    Joke 2 – the local County Sherriff had a “Counter sniper team” inside the factory/warehouse bldg – “Because too hot on the roof” or the “Roof was sloped/dangerous”. WTF Did this “team” qualify for the SS or just show up and claim status as gun bunnies? Giving the local popo an M4 and grow a scraggly beard/shave head does not make an “operator”. Nor does issuing a rifle w/scope make a sniper/counter sniper. Reportedly the county team had 3x shooters and ZERO spotters. BS.

    For more laughable BS/drivel – https://cleantechnica.com/author/jsensiba/

    as “It’s no secret that many of us here at CleanTechnica are deeply concerned about the potential reelection of Donald Trump. Just from a clean technology perspective, his hostility towards everything from solar panels to supposedly carcinogenic wind turbines to electric vehicles is no secret. For those of us who want … ”
    Solar, Wind, Battery cars are all moronic prog nonsense.

    • Yeah, Sensiba is not our people. And this autistic little tantrum over terminology is dumb.

      • Crooks was a shooter he exhibited none of the attributes of a sniper. Crooks merely crawled onto a roof and fired multiple shots.
        I know a lot people who can shoot, but have only met one(1) sniper in my 81 years on earth. Think what you may of the article, but Crooks was a shooter.

      • “Sensiba is not our people“

        Yeah, whatever. With you flying the flag of traitors to America and the Constitution, you are not our people.

        • MajorIdiot,

          That’s OK, little loser-liar, the only people who are “your” people are people no one else wants anything to do with. By the way, what party, EXACTLY was the South??? Oh, and the perpetrators of Jim Crow, and segregation, and violent riots to prevent “those colored” from voting, attending theaters, eating in the “white people’s section”. opposing the Voting Rights Act in higher percentages than the Republicans??? Oh, yeah, that was “your folks”, wannit????

          Go micturate up a cable, you racist, lying, Leftist/fascist propagandist. Gonna be watchin’ “your people” in two weeks in Chicago. It ought to be a real barn-burner . . . literally!! Just pop some popcorn, grab a mug of sweet ‘Leftist tears’ and LMAO.

    • This commie needs to be given the boot. To vote for the left, and then think you can work to protect gun rights through activism is the height of mental illness. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised given her condition, which was considered a mental illness until 1969, and was only changed by the APA when the organization was bullied by a bunch of ******s. When they don’t get their way, they bully and threaten those who disagree with them.

      Hey Boch! Get rid of this tw*t!

    • Jennifer writing for TTAG: We all have that hippy liberal aunt who’s telling everyone about Project 2025’s fascist takeover at family dinners.

      Jennifer writing for cleantechnica: The fear of this is not only reasonable, but likely, and we can’t necessarily count on normal constitutional processes and protections to stop Trump this time. As everyone should know by now, Project 2025 contains a blueprint for throwing off the usual limitations on presidential power, and clean technologies are in the proverbial crosshairs.

      Note the context. What a fraud you are, Jennifer.

      • I am still waiting for “clean” technologies (and yes this includes the wind turbines) to actually BE clean instead of merely a method of transferring the environmental pollution from here to “over there somewhere.”

    • Also from her article: Despite Biden’s recent problems with a lousy debate performance, a lot can still happen in four months.

      That’s hilarious (but sad). Biden doesn’t have a “recent problem.” He has been in SEVERE cognitive decline for YEARS! We were talking about it on TTAG in 2019. I’ll now refer others to the Yuri Bezmenov quotes I made on your other TTAG article. You can look as well, but it doesn’t matter. The truth can be right in front of you every day for five years, and you will claim that it’s a recent problem. This is a fine example of what Bezmenov warned us about. Imagine how much power you could have if you could get people to overlook the truth for years! It wasn’t a “lousy debate performance.” It was the truth becoming too difficult to hide.

  6. I thought a sniper was person who has or had a specific marksman related skill set learned from extensive training.

    • Factually incorrect. To snipe means to attack from a hidden position, usually at long range. One who does. is a sniper. Skill/training levels vary…

      It may be an elitist profession, but it is not an elitist term.

  7. I don’t know, this is pretty asinine. He didn’t run up out of the crowd and shoot from 10 feet. If Oswald’s shot from *his* perch at 88 yards was a sniper shot, so was this. And if it wasn’t, then what was it?

  8. I thought oswalds shot was pretty sniper-like. Maybe im wrong.

    I do agree this guy was just a goofball with a gun. Clanking around with a ladder, shimmying around with gun all flopping around. Still, it just takes one well placed shot

  10. But the book / movie “Shooter” was about a guy who was at the top of the skill pyramid.

    My head hurts. More bourbon…

    • “ANTIFA… a DEMOCRAT“

      Nope, actual source document show he was a registered Republican.

      They owned at least 20 firearms and were publicly supporting Donald Trump:

      “Thomas Matthew Crooks’ father was profiled by Donald Trump campaign, family had MAGA yard sign: reports
      By Social Links for Isabel Keane
      Published July 17, 2024, 7:32 a.m. ET

      “Crooks’ father, a registered Libertarian, was identified in the database as a strong Republican, likely a gun owner and “hunter.”

      “The family’s Bethel Park home had pro-Trump and MAGA decor, including yard signs, in the front yard until recently, one of the family’s neighbors told WPXI.

      “There absolutely was MAGA-supporting things for a while,” said neighbor Kelly Little, who was evacuated from her home for 24 hours as authorities removed a device from the Crooks family home”

      https://nypost.com/2024/07/17/us-news/thomas-matthew-crooks-father-profiled-by-donald-trump-campaign/

      • Do you remember when a bunch of liberals bragged on Twitter about registering as Republicans to tilt the primary in favor of Nikki Haley? Of course not; history always began two hours ago for doorknobs like you, but the rest of us do recall it very clearly, which makes a lot of sense when stacked against how this beanpole nutjob also donated money to ActBlue, which is an organization devoted to funneling cash directly to the Donkey Party.

        I mean, LIZ CHENEY is a registered Republican, for God’s sake. How much more proof do you need of how meaningless that actually is?

  12. I like Jennifer and what she writes. I respect the passion of our fellow readers but disagree in that many want to eviscerate anyone “less pure”. Not a healthy, let’s grow Constitutional respect policy. Project 2025, I looked it up according to Wiki. I deeply respect much of what the Heritage Foundation espouses. I’m good with most of it. I could care less about “The project seeks to eliminate coverage of emergency contraception under the Affordable Care Act[24] and enforce the Comstock Act to prosecute those who send and receive contraceptives and abortion pills nationwide.[27][28]” If some people want to negate their offspring, so be it. This is the biggest sword many conservatives fall on at the loss to the Nation. The Nation is more important! Kinda like putting your air mask on first, then help others.

    • I enjoy hearing different perspectives. I’ll talk to anyone. Ask Miner.

      I don’t care about ideological purity because I’m not an ideologue myself. I also don’t care for frauds. I definitely don’t care for moral lectures coming from someone that’s completely out of touch with reality. “Recent problems?” “Lousy debate performance?” Not even close. And that’s the tip of the iceberg. She’s always repeating MSM talking points. Now we know why.

    • This isn’t a purity test.

      She votes for the left, which means she votes for court packing, “commonsense gun laws” (which are anything but), red flag laws, “assault weapons” bans, and universal background checks.

      Everything “The Truth About Guns” is against, yet her work is highlighted here.

      That she speaks out against these infringements is irrelevant. The people she votes for will not stand down or change.

      She’s a fraud. An amoral chameleon. Mentally ill. A communist. And a traitor to the Constitution.

      Her work should not be present on this website. She can try and publish in The Hill, Politico, or some other leftist rag, and see how far she gets. TTAG has shown her too much indulgence already.

      • This is what she’s voting for …

        California enforcing red flag laws in other states.

        (https)://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuFxmjteoH4

        • johnnyboy…Before you go running around pointing fingers at the author try to remember the perp who is lily white just like you came as close as it gets to really fuking up the entire country for decades…any commits white boy?

          • You still haven’t answered my question … why are cities and countries run by The Usual Suspects complete and utter dysfunctional shyteholes?? It’s universal across time and space.

  14. “…it was an amateurish attempt unworthy of any real recognition.”

    That’s why it deserves special attention. If an “amateurish attempt” can come this close, then what can a professional attempt do?

  15. The thing that irks me is when the media says, “when shots rang out”. No, it’s when shots are fired. Maybe it’s just me. Irritating as F—

  16. I demur.

    If the AR had optics — which at this time we don’t know — a 165 yard headshot would indeed have been a chip shot with a decent rifle.

    But if it was a bone-stock, milstok AR (accuracy: 2-4 MOA), with iron sights, not so much.

    • True. But looking at the position of his head, it seems likely he had a red dot–but even many of those are 3 MOA.

    • LKB…I have seen a photo where the rifle appears to have a 1-4×24 style AR-15 scope, in the above photo it appears to have a tall Red Dot in relation to the perp’s line of sight. Who knows for sure when simple pertinent information is nowhere to be found?

      Because the perp did score a hit on the intended target my money says if not for the spoiler cop climbing to the roof and causing the perp to turn and point the weapon at him the perp who suddenly had to begin shooting as he repositioned himself would have scored much higher. Obviously each of the hastily fired rounds were intended for DJT. That’s each projectile traveling approximately 3000fps and spinning around 300,000 rpm.

      For the media, the shannon watts crowd and the forum’s sanctified circle jerks whose contribution is trashing the author…The perp did not use America’s Rifle. The perp criminally misused America’s Rifle.

    • Exactly.

      Further, if l can finally get past the censorship – initial report was 5 shots. Results: 2 head wounds, 1 fatal, 2 mid-torso hits (on 1 victim), Trump’s ear, and a creased neck on a 12 yo. Not really what I would expect from spray and pray at a single target with a crowd as a backstop, but not impossible.

      The subsequent claim was 8 shots, not 5, but that doesn’t change the story that much

      I see this kid as wanting a high body count to go with the dead candidate.

      The story about the “tryout” for the rifle club is interesting, when you consider the reports that his dad owns “20 guns” and that they spent father/son time on the range at the gun club. He might have been goofing on said rifle club, imo…

      That implies a serious level of alienation from his peer group, and a taste for deception.

      Add in the “counter-sniper team” that took up a “position inside the building” and suddenly I need a beer and a burger, mama…

  18. That is a civilian definition. Not a military one. A person who becomes a sniper is sent to a sniper school.

    There are plenty of units with a “designated marksman”. Normally the best shooter determined by local unit competition.
    Sending a soldier to sniper school is expensive. Many units don’t have the funds for it.

    btw
    I have no idea what “project 2025” is. I’m not on the Jennifer democrats reading e mail list.

    Most American deer hunters are making 130 yards hits every deer season.

    It seems only the big city liberals don’t understand this.

    • Chris T in KY – Project 2025 is a blueprint document, more or less, from The Heritage Foundation think tank. P2025 is very much grounded in (now) old-school Chamber of Commerce and neo-conservative ideas with a dose of Christian conservatism – in other words Reaganism. The Looney Left have, of course, accused Trump of using P2025 as his personal version of that odious book written by that guy from Austria they compare him to. One of the big things from P2025 that has the Left apoplectic is making the so-called “Morning After Pill” and other non-invasive abortifacients illegal – further restricting the intrinsic (and intrinsically repulsive) secular “sacrament” of the Left. Unfortunately for both old-school GOPers and the leftist/statist/fascist Democrats using P2025 as a blueprint and/or boogeyman is totally outdated – Trump has, to coin a phrase, Trumped P2025. Selecting Vance as his successor, properly interpreting the recent Supreme Court decisions and the changing demographics of the US (along with the changing demographics of the Democrat Party) have made P2025, its originators, supporters and its detractors’ histrionics obsolete.

      We’re on unknown ground now with broad economic populism being redefined as right-wing – populism in the US has always had a strong bent toward isolationism and banking reform so that’s nothing new – but we’ll see how things go if or not Trump/Vance and the “new” GOP can deliver what they’ve been promising (and implying) to working class voters. Those working class voters who used to reflexively vote Democrat that Trump absolutely has to have to win this year and Vance has to keep to win 4 years from now.

      Will the GOP be willing to horse trade further restrictions on our natural and Constitutional rights to accomplish their goals? They have in the past, with sickening regularity. But that won’t sit well with those same, mostly rural and small town working class voters that are absolutely essential to sustain Trumpism so I guess we’ll see. In my mind it’s all, at best, a delaying action until the nexus point we seem to be approaching where we’ll go through some kind of transition into whatever the USA will be over the next 50-100 years – if the recent past (the last 50-100 years) are any indication technological changes will be bigger drivers to sociological changes than politics. Makes me glad I’m old but sad for what my grandchildren might have to face.

      Regardless, it’s looking more and more likely the Donkeys are, at least this year, in for a rough election – I’ll take what I can get and enjoy those Blue tears.

      • Thanks for the response. President Reagan gave the country a great economy. Only to be wasted by his vice president George Bush the father.

        I believe military spending went down under Reagan. Go look it up. He said he was ordering the bombing of the Russians, on an open microphone.

        I remember just how terrified everyone was. Including the Russians. Because of his bluff. We got a nuclear arms reduction treaty.

        Now they want you to look at this “Project 2025”. But they don’t want you to look at the Black Lives Matter manifesto. Where they openly say the want to end the traditional family of one man and one woman.

        They want you to ignore the fact that BLM was founded by self admitted trained open h.o.mose.xual marxists.
        The white ho.m.osexua.ls said the same thing decades ago. It’s just that the black h0.mo.sexua.ls put that in writing in their manifesto.

        btw

        It’s good that a Leftist can sometimes be honest with you.

        From the mouth of Leftist Bill Maher

        “Abortion is murder. And I’m OK with that.”
        video 1 min long.

        https://youtu.be/XQvB55pAFy0?si=Oav-aMVWYRgs_9-Q

  27. Jennifer Sensiba is an example controlled opposition in the gun community. The sexually liberated are so.ci.ali.st pr.og.ressi.ve in their p0lit.ic@l 0ri.en.tati0n. They have never believed in liberty.

  28. My son has more claim as a sniper than this loser.

    He can get 10/10 hits on a Figure-14 “Hun’s Head” target at 100m SITTING with a scoped .22

    He is also very good at telescopic sight matches out to 300m using a scoped Ruger Scout.

    130m with a .223 is simple by comparison.

  29. This shot missed by under 1 moa. I’d argue that the shot itself wasn’t the problem. The USSS wasn’t the problem, Trump simply exercised the right of a living thing to move. If I were to use this shot to teach, what I’d teach is that better shooters have missed this shot for the same reason. Target selection. That’s the simplest explanation. In defensive shooting, it is commonly agreed upon as a standard that you shoot for center mass. Why? Density of vital organs, and it’s the least mobile section of the body. The head, besides the hands, is the most highly mobile part of the body, it moves in unpredictable ways, at unpredictable times, and a kill shot is lost in a fraction of an inch, or in a few degrees rotation (as we’ve seen). In shooting from a middle/close range, the flight time was reduced to 0.15 to 0.18 seconds, and STILL the shot was lost. That’s what the head can do.
    The only reason to risk such a shot is if the shooter had reason to suspect the target was wearing body armor, which given the circumstances, is reasonable. An experienced sniper (actual) would probably just bring a bigger rifle, because he would understand that he’d have a better chance trying to defeat the body armor than making a headshot from 150 degrees offset to the target. 30-06 or .338 vs lvl3a is 100% safer shot.
    Takeaway, don’t shoot at the President.

    • I still think that was a very lucky turn-of-the-head.

      Odds are the result could have been much worse. Lucky the shooter failed entry to the school rifle team.

      • I would not buy the disinformation stream or believe what the HS kids said who bullied this creepy little weasel all through his school career. Likely he was excluded from the team but I am not willing to believe the reasons stated. This kid was a better shot than everyone wants us to believe and that is part of why he was recruited by whatever shadow organization that helped pave a ghost path right through all the security to place him on that rooftop at the correct time on that fateful day.

        I tend to think DJT just got incredibly lucky when he turned his head to read that chart the exact second the shooter pulled the trigger for his first shot. We all dodged a bullet but we probably won’t ever know all or perhaps any of the other opposing assets arranged on this chess board that day. I’m becoming increasingly convinced that there are opposing assets within the USSS that are trying to obscure malice of forethought under a thin veneer of DEI incompetence.

        But what do I know? I’m just a nobody bloviating on an internet forum and spewing conspiracy theories. When are they ever proven right later? huh?

    • Would be surprised if some more advanced version of the hesco 4800 low visibility plate isn’t fairly standard for public figures in these scenarios by now. 30-06 is largely irrelevant to modern plates but 338 could be a contender if it can be moved in easily and with appropriate AP ammo. Otherwise head shots and maybe upper thoracic to go for blood loss.

  31. “ACCURATE” rifle fire is keeping your groupings within 4″ at 500 meters (550ish yards)! Competition shooters with custom rifles can cut that number in half. At 125-130 yards shooting an AR15 with iron sites, if that kid was even mediocre, he should have been able to shoot a 4″ group easily. My opinion is that the hand of GOD turned president Trump’s head at exactly the right instant to get a 3000fps ear piercing instead of brain liquefaction.

  32. Jennifer as usual is right on. The media works on the idea of sensationalism. SNIPER brings to mind Hathcock, and more recently the kid from Saving Private Ryan. It sparks imagination.

    The reality I’m betting junior had no clue what he was shooting. He was a dead end nobody looking for his one shot at attention. Sadly in the modern “gaymer” world he had no clue what real wins are.

    This article teaches most of all people the value of looking at the media with a jaundiced view.

    • That’s exactly what the shadow people who smoothed the path to get him up on that rooftop at the right time want us to believe.

  34. How about failed would be assassin, lousy shooter and all around loser?

  35. Know quite a few snipers…they study intelligence scouting, concealment, land navigation, fire direction and, oh yeah, shooting. They go to PRS matches but rarely win. But don’t think about following any of them into the woods. A good shot is one thing, a sniper is another entirely…I have shot a 4″ class group at 1000 with a champion BMG shooter’s gear, but Carlos Hathcock was a Sniper with 89 kills in jungle warfare.

  36. It’s too late. You had your chance years ago. When a congresswoman, maxine waters said to confront and chase after trump supporters, in public including restaurants.

    And you said nothing.

    When a murderous mob poured concrete on the exits and tried to set a federal courthouse building on fire. With people still inside it. You said nothing, except that they had the first amendment right to do it. According to you.

    According to you, it was good that christians were prevented from attending Easter services. While at the same time the strip clubs were allowed to stay open.

    President Trump will say what is necessary to placate, the racist crazy libertarians liberals and leftists, who want to murder him and his supporters. He will say “nice things” in order to get the votes necessary to get elected.

    National divorce is coming whether you want one or not.

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