PHOENIX — On Saturday, a shooter attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump while Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The former President was shot in the ear before being whisked off the stage by Secret Service agents and into an SUV.
At least one person who was attending the rally was killed. Two others were critically hurt, according to authorities. The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who opened fire from an elevated location outside of the secure area around the rally.
This was the first major assassination attempt of a president or presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 and comes just days before former President Trump is set to accept the Republican nomination for president at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The shooter has not been identified and no motive for the shooting has been announced.
RELATED: Arizona politicians respond to shooting that injured former President Donald Trump at campaign rally
In the wake of the assassination attempt of the former president, 12News political insider Brahm Resnik spoke with former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, who served in the role for more than seven years and assisted with the security of many major events including a Super Bowl, World Series and presidential rallies, including some for Trump.
Penzone said he was "disappointed" to see the outbreak of violence in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
"Because of the business I've been in for so long, I don't know that much surprises us because we, we've become a nation were violence is something we're far too comfortable with," Penzone said. "But it's heartbreaking."
Penzone said former President Trump holding his rally outdoors made securing the event much more complicated.
"The environment absolutely complicates your ability to account for everything," Penzone said. "But with that being said, the resources, at least in Arizona, and I would expect the same in Pennsylvania, this isn't meant to be a criticism, are vast, when it comes to this situation. And it really is, you can never underestimate the possibility of where it could come from or how it could occur. And you have to check and double-check."
"So it is harder, but that's, that's part of our nation like we shouldn't steer away from it because we say, gosh, it's too hard because of a threat. This is a free nation where we should celebrate peace and celebrate democracy and not fear violence but prepare for it. So although it's complicated, I don't think that should mean that we steer away from doing it."
However, Penzone said more should have been done to keep everyone at former President Trump's rally safe and especially when it comes to securing "elevated areas."
"It is a little bit surprising, because usually high points, areas of elevation that are to the benefit of someone who wants to do harm to the detriment of the person you're trying to protect are usually those that are kind of prioritized to make sure that there is no, there is no vulnerability that you have not missed or left that wide open," Penzone said. "You always want to review it and see where you could have and should have done better," the former sheriff continued. "But at the end of the day, if a former president who was a candidate for you know, office, again, was within millimeters, if not an inch of losing his life, there is no victory. And that is a failure. The fact that a shooter was able to get to that post, fire a round off and potentially take the life of anyone, and there was a loss of life. It's a failure."
Penzone also said the Secret Service agents should not have allowed the former president to show his face after shots were fired.
"It's a powerful moment of his resilience, so, you know, I can appreciate the strength that he's showing under that duress," Penzone said. "But if it were a team I was responsible for I would never want you to see his face again until he's removed from that space, which is now no longer pristine."
The former sheriff also said everyone needs to prepare for the possibility of violence more, given the political climate we are currently in.
"There is no justification for violence, but we cannot underestimate that it exists and we must be prepared for and be empowered by our preparation, not fearful," Penzone said.
Penzone added that he is not sure if any changes will be made to how presidents and former presidents are protected in the wake of this shooting.
"I don't know that necessarily tactically, you know, you're changing, it is really just revisiting what could have or should have been done to prevent it from occurring," Penzone said. "And with that being said, you can't account for every detail. It's just not realistic. But in reviewing it, you have to ask yourself these details: Were they missed, or were they something beyond our reach? And when you evaluate that you have to, you have to judge yourself harshly."
He also urged election officials to take extra caution when it comes to their security.
"Never, ever underestimate the potential of a threat and always err on the side of taking the extra step versus taking it for granted," Penzone said. "And oftentimes, we all want to feel that sense of, I'm safe, it's not real, or the bravado like I'm not intimidated or scared by this, nor should you be but you should be empowered by it, which means take the extra steps for your safety for those around you for your family."
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