In a dramatic and harrowing incident, radio legend Howard Stern narrowly escaped an assassination attempt earlier today. The attempt on Stern’s life comes just weeks after the U.S. Secret Service detailed multiple failures in preventing a similar assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in July. These alarming security breaches have sparked nationwide concern over the effectiveness of protection provided to high-profile figures.

According to reports, Stern was targeted by an assailant while attending a public event in New York City. The gunman, later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, but quick action from Stern’s security team prevented what could have been a tragedy. Stern was unharmed, though visibly shaken, while two members of his security detail sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

This incident comes on the heels of a Secret Service review of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, where Crooks similarly fired from a rooftop at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump narrowly escaped, suffering a minor wound to his right ear, while one attendee lost their life. The review, led by Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr., identified critical lapses in security planning and communication, noting that information about the rooftop shooter was not relayed in time to Secret Service personnel.

“While some members of the advance team were very diligent, there was complacency on the part of others that led to a breach of security protocols,” Rowe admitted in a press briefing. Among the most significant failures was the failure to communicate a sighting of Crooks to the agents responsible for protecting Trump.

Following today’s assassination attempt on Stern, it has become clear that the threat landscape for public figures remains extraordinarily volatile. The U.S. House of Representatives had already moved swiftly to pass a bill boosting Secret Service protection for presidential candidates to the same level as sitting presidents and vice presidents, with the legislation now awaiting a vote in the Senate.

Stern, known for his provocative commentary and media presence, has long been a polarizing figure. While he has not made any public statement regarding the attack, those close to him have confirmed that security measures around him will be significantly increased.

With political figures like Trump pointing fingers at rhetoric from political opponents for fueling such violence, the focus has once again shifted toward ensuring the safety of prominent figures in today’s increasingly charged environment. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have both condemned the acts of violence, calling for more resources to be allocated to the Secret Service.

The series of assassination attempts has highlighted an urgent need for a shift from “reaction to readiness,” as Rowe emphasized. Whether today’s incident will prompt further security reforms remains to be seen, but the increased demand for robust protection is undeniable.