The FBI announced on Sunday that it is investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The incident occurred at Trump’s golf resort in West Palm Beach, Florida, after Secret Service agents fired on a gunman spotted near the property.
What Happened at the Golf Club?
At approximately 2 p.m. local time, Trump was playing golf at his West Palm Beach resort with his friend, Republican megadonor Steve Witkoff, when gunshots were heard. Trump was moving between the fifth and sixth holes when the course was placed on lockdown.
According to law enforcement, a Secret Service agent saw what appeared to be a gun barrel protruding from some bushes near the course. Multiple officers fired at least four rounds at the suspect, though it remains unclear whether the suspect fired back.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed that a witness had photographed the suspect’s car and provided the license plate to authorities. The suspect, who fled in a black Nissan, was apprehended shortly after in Martin County.
A semi-automatic rifle was found near the scene, along with two backpacks containing ceramic tiles and a GoPro camera, leading investigators to believe the gunman intended to record the assassination attempt.
Where Did the Incident Take Place?
The shooting occurred at the Trump International Golf Club, located about 4 miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Related: Florida Gov. DeSantis Vows State Investigation Into Attempted Trump Assassination
Sheriff Bradshaw said Trump was approximately 400-500 yards from the suspect, a distance well within the range of the weapon and scope the suspect was carrying. After the incident, Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago.
Who Is the Suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh?
The suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh. According to media reports, Routh previously lived in North Carolina and moved to Kaaawa, Hawaii, in 2018, where he and his son ran a business building sheds.
Routh gained attention in 2023 when he was interviewed by The New York Times about his efforts to recruit Afghan soldiers to fight in Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion.
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.
In past social media posts, Routh expressed mixed political views. He indicated that he had voted for Trump in 2016 but had since become disillusioned with him, instead showing support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. After the July assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh had urged Biden and Harris to visit the wounded and attend the funeral of a firefighter killed during the rally.
Routh’s son, Oran, told CNN that he hopes the situation has “just been blown out of proportion,” describing his father as a “loving and caring” man who would never engage in violent acts.
The First Assassination Attempt on Trump
This is not the first time Trump has been targeted. On July 13, during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was slightly injured when a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and the suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents at the scene.
Reactions to the Latest Assassination Attempt
President Biden expressed relief that Trump was unharmed, thanking the Secret Service for their swift response. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the political violence, calling it “disturbing.”
Republican and Democratic leaders also voiced their reactions. Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz questioned the repeated targeting of Trump, writing, “We need to know why this keeps happening.”
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik demanded answers about how the gunman managed to get so close to Trump. “There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, and we expect a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida,” she said.
International leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mexico’s president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, condemned the attack, emphasizing the importance of peace in democratic processes.
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