Catalin Grigoras and Cole Whitecotton said
An audio forensic analysis conducted by experts from the National Center for Media Forensics at the University of Colorado in Denver suggests the possibility of a second shooter in the incident that took place in Butler. Catalin Grigoras and Cole Whitecotton said, “The first three shots were consistent with alleged weapon A, the next five were consistent with alleged weapon B, and the final ‘acoustic impulse’ was emitted by a possible weapon C.” While one of the shooters has been identified and another was a Secret Service sniper, the identity of the third potential shooter remains unknown. As per a substack by Stephen Bryen, former deputy undersecretary of defense, despite the FBI’s assertion that the identified shooter acted alone, this controversial audio forensic analysis raises questions that warrant further investigation and peer review. Beyond the audio forensics, other aspects of the incident require attention.
The initial burst of gunfire originated from the identified shooter’s location. A second burst was detected from an unclear location, distinct from the first. Additionally, there may have been a third shooter who fired a single shot. Forensic acoustic experts propose the involvement of at least two shooters, excluding the Secret Service snipers, Bryen wrote in his substack “Weapons and strategy”. Moreover, the exact number of shots fired by the Secret Service snipers on the rooftop behind Trump is unknown. Most reports indicate that it took only one shot to neutralize the shooter. The agents, equipped with sophisticated sniper weapons—one mounted on a tripod and another on a small stand for a prone shot—are believed to have fired after the shooter initiated gunfire. However, this sequence does not entirely match the acoustic evidence. The evidence suggests that the final single shot, if confirmed, may have been fired by the snipers, resulting in the shooter’s death by a single headshot, Bryen said. “The Secret Service sniper(s) did their job, but there are still questions about the timing as the threat could have been eliminated much sooner and lives perhaps could have been saved. Bullets flying around the shooter but not instantly killing him also could have been a partial deterrent,” Bryen wrote. A solid FBI investigation with Congressional oversight is necessary to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation. The FBI possesses the forensic capabilities required to conduct a proper investigation, but strong leadership and oversight are essential to prevent a sloppy or politically biased review.