Authorities have identified the man arrested Sunday in connection with the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
According to Fox News, citing “two law enforcement sources,” Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was taken into custody by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office after fleeing the scene.
Routh was unable to fire any shots at the former president, and Trump was unharmed during the incident.
Watch: Suspect in the Trump assassination attempt, Ryan Wesley Routh, was interviewed by Newsweek Romania in 2022. According to the report, he helped recruit foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine.
Previous reporting:
Former President Donald Trump was taken to safety by the Secret Service on Sunday after agents opened fire on a suspect who was spotted with what appeared to be a firearm near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Law enforcement sources confirmed the incident and said the individual was later detained.
According to authorities, the Secret Service noticed a suspicious individual near the property line of the golf course. The agents opened fire when they saw what looked like the barrel of a rifle emerging from the bushes.
Read: Former President Trump Releases Statement After Shots Fired In Florida “Nothing Will Slow Me Down”
The man fled the scene, but witnesses were able to provide critical information, including a photo of the suspect’s vehicle, a black Nissan.
The real-time Crime Center in West Palm Beach quickly processed the information, and the vehicle was tracked on I-95 heading toward Martin County. Martin County Sheriff’s deputies stopped the car and detained the suspect. A witness was brought to the location, and the man was positively identified as the individual seen fleeing the scene.
At the site where the suspect had been hiding, law enforcement recovered an AK-47-style rifle equipped with a scope, along with two backpacks containing ceramic tiles and a GoPro camera, indicating the suspect may have been planning to document his actions. The Secret Service agent who initially spotted the threat was positioned a hole ahead of where Trump was playing and immediately engaged the suspect, causing him to flee.
Read: Former President Trump Safe After Secret Service Opens Fire On Suspect In Florida
The FBI has now taken over the investigation, deploying teams including bomb technicians, crisis response units, and evidence collection specialists. Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues. The FBI, Secret Service, and local law enforcement agencies are working together to determine the suspect’s motives and any potential charges.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg announced that his office is working on warrants and a pre-trial detention motion to keep the suspect in custody. Federal charges may also be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.
The Secret Service assured the public that there is no ongoing threat and commended the swift action of their agents, while also suggesting that future security measures may be enhanced during Trump’s visits to the golf course.
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