
09/16/2024
Trump Safe After Second Apparent Assassination Attempt
West Palm Beach, Florida —
The FBI is investigating what appears to be a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his Florida golf club on Sunday. Trump was unharmed, and his campaign confirmed his safety. This is the second reported attempt on his life in the past two months.
At around 1:30 p.m. ET, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to shots fired by Secret Service agents at Trump International Golf Club. A man with a rifle was spotted near the perimeter while Trump was playing golf between holes five and six.
A Secret Service agent, part of a security team monitoring the course ahead of Trump, saw a rifle barrel and scope near the fence. The agent immediately opened fire on the suspect, who was 300 to 500 yards away from Trump. The gunman fled the scene in a black Nissan, but was later apprehended in Martin County with the help of a witness who captured the vehicle’s details.
Ryan Wesley Routh, a self-employed builder from Hawaii, is in custody in connection with the incident. Routh had previously traveled to Ukraine and shared political views online, often critical of Trump.
The FBI is conducting a global investigation into Routh’s background, with some suspected online activity originating from international platforms.
Authorities recovered an AK-47-style rifle, backpacks containing ceramic tiles, and a GoPro camera from the scene. Trump’s game was a last-minute addition to his schedule.
This attempted assassination comes two months after a similar incident at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump reassured his supporters of his safety in a fundraising email shortly after the incident. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris expressed relief and condemned the violence.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and his ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, both confirmed Trump’s well-being and praised his resilience.
This story has been updated with new developments and corrections.