On Sunday (Sept. 15), 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested for an apparent attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump. The incident took place while Trump was playing golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to reports, U.S. Secret Service agents were surveilling the golf course a hole ahead of Trump when they noticed Routh, who was hidden behind some shrubbery. Routh was found approximately 400 to 500 yards from Trump’s location and was pointing an AK-47 through a chain-link fence. Secret Service agents fired off at least four rounds in the gunman’s direction.
Unharmed, Routh fled the scene, leaving his rifle, which had a scope, a GoPro camera, and two backpacks. With the help of a witness, law enforcement was able to identify Routh’s vehicle. Routh was arrested a little over an hour after he was first seen hiding outside of Trump’s golf course.
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According to cell phone records, Routh had been waiting at the location for nearly 12 hours. Routh has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
After speaking with Trump, Fox News host Sean Hannity said that he was told that within seconds of hearing gunfire, Secret Service agents shielded Trump by jumping on him. Secret Service agents then whisked Trump to safety using a golf cart.
Routh has had multiple run-ins with the police. In 2002, he was convicted of possessing an automatic firearm after being arrested following a three-hour standoff with police.
Second Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump in Less Than 2 Months
Sunday’s incident took place just nine weeks after Trump survived an attempt on his life. In July, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks used a AR-style rifle to fire multiple shots in the direction of Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
While Trump escaped with his life after a bullet pierced his ear, rally attender Corey Comperatore was killed. Two other rally attenders, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, were critically injured.
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL,” Trump said in a statement issued through his campaign after Sunday’s assassination attempt. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
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