Former President Donald Trump is safe after an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf course on Sunday afternoon. A “potential suspect” is now in custody, according to U.S. authorities. Secret Service agents noticed the barrel of a rifle sticking out from some bushes and fired at the suspect. The FBI said Trump was about 300 to 500 yards away when this happened.
A witness saw the suspect, named by U.S. media as Ryan Routh, coming out of the bushes and getting into a black Nissan car after the agents fired at him. An AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, a scope, and a GoPro camera were found at the scene.
The witness took a photo of the car and its license plate, which helped police in Martin County, north of the golf club, to stop the vehicle and detain the suspect. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County said they contacted the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, which then pulled over the car and held the suspect. The witness was flown to Martin County and identified Routh as the person who had been hiding in the bushes.
It’s not clear if the suspect managed to fire at Trump or the Secret Service agents.
Trump reassured his supporters through an email saying he was “safe and well” and added, “Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
This incident occurred almost two months after another attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman shot at Trump and hit his ear.
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The Secret Service said they were looking into a “protective incident” that happened around 2:00 PM EDT on Sunday. Sheriff Bradshaw later praised the agent on the golf course for quickly spotting the rifle barrel and responding.
There is now a high level of security around Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property and his golf course in West Palm Beach. U.S. media, including CBS, named the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, from Hawaii. This hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but law enforcement is expected to address this in a news conference on Monday.
Routh’s social media profiles show he encouraged people to join the fight in Ukraine against Russian forces. According to CBS News, he has a criminal record in North Carolina, with charges including carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, and possession of stolen property between 2002 and 2010.
President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris have been informed about the incident. Biden stated, “I am relieved that the former president is unharmed.” Harris, who is in a close race with Trump for the presidency, condemned the attempted assassination and political violence, emphasizing the importance of preventing further violence. She also thanked the Secret Service and police for their vigilance.
