Man Spent 12 Hours Near Trump Golf Course Before Arrest for Alleged Assassination Attempt
A man suspected of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump was apprehended by the Secret Service on Sunday after spending nearly 12 hours camped out near a Florida golf course, The Associated Press reports, citing court documents.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested in a neighboring county after a Secret Service agent spotted him with a rifle and fired shots in his direction. Routh, who did not fire any shots and never had Trump in his line of sight, fled the scene in a vehicle. He faces federal firearms charges.
The incident, which occurred just weeks after a shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania, has raised serious concerns about the safety of politicians during an increasingly polarized political climate.
The attempted assassination unfolded at a golf course in West Palm Beach where Trump was playing. A Secret Service agent assigned to Trump’s detail spotted a firearm protruding from shrubbery and fired shots at the suspect, prompting Routh to flee in a sports utility vehicle.
The FBI is investigating Routh’s motive and movements leading up to the incident. He was reportedly at the golf course’s tree line for over 12 hours, from 1:59 a.m. to 2:31 p.m., as confirmed by cell phone data. He left behind a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope, a backpack, a digital camera, and a bag containing food.
Routh, who is from Hawaii, invoked his right to an attorney during questioning, and no motive has been disclosed.
Ronald Rowe Jr., the Secret Service’s acting director, defended his agents, outlining the “unprecedented and hyper-dynamic threat environment” they face, and called for additional resources.
“The men and women of the Secret Service, right now, we are redlining them, and they are rising to this moment, and they are meeting the challenges,” Rowe said, citing recent political conventions and major events requiring extensive security.
The FBI is actively investigating the incident and working to gather evidence, including interviewing family members, friends, and colleagues.
