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.
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.
That is the proper way to do things.
Clearly that didn't happen.
We should find out in about 75 years.....