The shooter had knowledge of the venue.
🗣️ DISCUSSION 💬
So I have been wondering how a 20 year old kid found a roof top were he could have a direct sight line to the podium. Was he on the crew that set up the stage and noticed that the rooftop was there? He would have had to have had knowledge of the layout of the venue. He would have had to have known how and where the stands would be placed. A shooter just doesn't happen to pick the right building and have a perfect shot without planning. No way he did that on his own. No way he just got lucky and picked the right spot.
He lived nearby, probably attended other events for years and years.
OK, so he knew the grounds well enough ahead of time to think hey if I take a rifle up on "XYZ" roof I will have a clear shot through a set of bleachers, and people, who were only recently assembled? Do 20 year olds have that much forethought and awareness? I am still having a hard time believing that he came up with that by himself in a very short amount of time.
When I was 20, I had plans more complex than that for shooting deer.
But don't get me wrong,I'm not saying he didn't have help.
I don’t want to bad mouth deer hunters, or any hunters, but for them 150 yards is not a difficult shot.
I agree that anybody could think up a good shooting position but the fact that access to that position would have been the most restricted area at the rally. He would have had to pass by multiple teams who were guarding access to that area. Judging from the outdoor rallies I've attended with buildings around the fenced area he would also have to pass by security with dogs.
I would pre-position the rifle and ladder.
That area should have been searched and probably wasn't.
That specific area would have been the most secure area in the whole place. It would have been searched by multiple agencies (Sheriff, Local Police & Secret Service including K9) over a period of 12 hours at minimum. The only way onto that rooftop would be to be escorted by people with badges. Law enforcement would not have stepped away from that position for a single minute.
Of course they have the awareness. Think about it. Some of the world's greatest creations came from the minds of 20 somethings. Music. Novels. Paintings. You name it. Always in a short span. Often affecting humanity long after they've gone.