Trump safe after assassination attempt at Florida golf course; suspect in custody
Former President Donald Trump is safe after an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf course on Sunday, with authorities confirming that a “potential suspect” is in custody.
According to US officials, Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of a rifle emerging from bushes and responded with gunfire.
Trump was reportedly 300 to 500 yards away at the time of the incident, according to the FBI.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect, identified by media as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, from Hawaii, fleeing the scene after agents fired at him.
He allegedly jumped into a black Nissan vehicle, which was later stopped in Martin County, north of the golf course.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County confirmed that the witness who saw Routh identified him as the suspect.
An AK-47-style firearm, a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera were recovered at the scene. Secret Service officials are still investigating whether Routh managed to fire at Trump or the agents.
“We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents, but for sure our agents were able to engage with the suspect,” said Rafael Barros from the Secret Service Miami Field Office.
In an email to his supporters, Trump reassured them of his safety, stating, “Nothing will slow me down… I will never surrender!”
This attempt comes just two months after a similar incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was injured after a gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at him, leaving one audience member dead before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The Secret Service acknowledged the golf course incident, noting they were investigating a “protective incident” involving Trump.
Sheriff Bradshaw praised the quick action of the agents, stating that one of them spotted the rifle barrel in time to engage the suspect.
A heavy security presence now surrounds Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and the West Palm Beach golf course.
US media outlets, including CBS, have linked Routh to past criminal offenses in North Carolina, and social media profiles suggest he had previously called for foreign fighters to join the conflict in Ukraine.
President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the incident, with Biden expressing relief that Trump was unharmed.
Harris, who is in a tight election race with Trump, condemned political violence and praised law enforcement for their vigilance, stating, “I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt… We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”
Source-BBC
