On Sunday, an apparent assassination attempt targeted former President Donald Trump, according to the FBI. Ryan Wesley Routh has been taken into custody after being identified as the individual spotted with a rifle at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The incident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. ET on the Trump International Golf Course while Trump was playing. It concluded miles away after Routh was seen driving on Interstate 95. This event follows a previous incident two months ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was wounded in a similar attempted assassination.
Routh faced federal gun charges in a West Palm Beach courtroom on Monday. He has been charged with two offenses: possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Represented by a federal public defender, Routh disclosed to the judge that he has no savings and a 25-year-old son. The judge, agreeing with prosecutors, ordered Routh to remain in custody until his formal arraignment on September 30.
The criminal complaint indicates that data from Routh’s cellphone provider placed him in the golf course’s vicinity for nearly 12 hours. Local prosecutors filed warrants and a pretrial detention motion to keep Routh in custody as federal charges were anticipated.
While Trump was on the golf course, Secret Service agents maintained a security perimeter around him. An agent noticed a gun barrel protruding from a fence and immediately engaged the suspicious individual, leading the suspect to flee. The incident occurred near the intersection of S. Congress Ave. and Summit Blvd., where the suspect had a clear view of two holes on the golf course.
Federal agents reportedly fired four to six rounds at the suspect from a long distance. It remains unclear if the suspect returned fire. The suspect fled the scene in a car, heading north on I-95. Trump was reported safe and unharmed following the incident.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw commended the Secret Service’s prompt action and suggested that future security measures for Trump’s golf outings might be increased. The suspect left behind an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks with ceramic tiles and a GoPro camera, indicative of an intention to film the occurrences.
The criminal complaint detailed that Routh used an SKS-style rifle, closely related to the AK-47. This type of weapon has been employed in previous high-profile attacks, including the 2017 Congressional baseball practice shooting and a 2015 attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic.
A key break in the investigation occurred when a witness took a picture of the suspect’s license plate. The vehicle was tracked on I-95 and was subsequently pulled over by the sheriff’s office, leading to Routh’s arrest. The license plate on Routh’s Nissan was reported stolen from another vehicle.
Routh, previously a Trump voter and supporter of Ukraine, moved to Hawaii in 2018 and operates a business building portable storage units. His criminal history includes a felony conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction in 2002.
Addressing the incident, Trump assured supporters he was safe and pledged to continue his campaign activities. Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden condemned the attempted assassination, stressing the importance of resolving differences through democratic means. Acting head of the Secret Service, Ronald L. Rowe Jr., was in Florida to assess the situation and determine any necessary adjustments for ensuring Trump’s safety.
The incident drew wide attention, with Trump later expressing gratitude for the support and well-wishes received.
NPR deputy national editor Russell Lewis contributed to this report.