Suspect in apparent assassination attempt against Trump charged with federal gun crimes

Published 11:56 am Monday, September 16, 2024

The FBI said former President Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination ” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt on his life.

Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a July rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear.

U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire on Sunday after seeing a person with a firearm near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club in Florida while he was golfing. No injuries were reported. Officials say the person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended by local law enforcement.

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He was identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Routh appeared in federal court in Florida Monday and was charged with federal gun crimes.

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Body camera footage shows Routh’s arrest

Body camera footage posted on Facebook Monday shows the arrest of the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt.

The video posted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shows Ryan Routh walking backward with his hands over his head on the side of a road before being handcuffed and led away by law enforcement.

Law enforcement block and search Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach

Local law enforcement was still blocking the palm tree-lined road south of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, as a group of FBI agents were searching Monday near the hedge surrounding the property.

Other investigators were also in the area walking back and forth from their vehicles to the hedge.

Journalists had set up cameras near a gas station facing the property as temperatures were nearing 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

An update on the investigation is expected Monday afternoon

Authorities are planning to give an update on their investigation.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says it is hosting officials with the Secret Service and FBI for an update at 4 p.m. ET Monday.

Representatives from both federal agencies, along with Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, are expected to meet with members of the media at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in West Palm Beach.

Court documents detail charges and penalties Routh could face

The court documents also detail the charges and possible penalties Routh could face if convicted.

The charge of possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction carries a possible 15-year sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

A second charge of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number carries a possible five-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine and also three years supervised release.

Routh was stopped by officers 45 minutes after he fled the golf course, court documents say

According to court documents, Routh was stopped by officers about 45 minutes after he fled the golf course.

Officials said that Routh answered in the affirmative when officers asked him if he knew why he was being stopped. The vehicle was stopped at about 2:14 p.m. on northbound Interstate 95 in Martin County, which neighbors Palm Beach County.

Federal prosecutors’ complaint against Routh filed in court

Federal prosecutors’ complaint against Routh has been filed in court.

According to the complaint, cell phone records show that Routh was in the area of the golf course tree line for about 12 hours, from approximately 1:59 a.m. until 1:31 p.m. on Sunday.

The license plate on the Nissan SUV in which Routh was stopped was registered to a 2012 Ford truck that has been reported stolen, according to authorities.

DeSantis says Florida will conduct state-level investigation into the apparent assassination attempt

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state will be conducting its own investigation into the apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life Sunday.

“I understand that the feds are involved but we do believe that there were multiple violations of state law. We also believe that there’s a need to make sure that the truth about all this comes out in a way, you know, that’s credible,” he said during a news conference Monday morning. “I mean I look at the federal government, with all due respect to them, those same agencies that are prosecuting Trump in that jurisdiction are now going to be investigating this?”

DeSantis added that while the federal government has its “prerogative,” “we have our prerogative.”

The governor said he had not yet spoken to Trump.

Man suspected in apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump is charged with federal gun crimes

Ryan Wesley Routh has had his first appearance in federal court.

During an eight-minute hearing, prosecutors levied two charges against him: possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Officials said Routh could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the first charge, and a possible five-year sentence on the second charge.

A bond hearing has been schedule for Sept. 23, and a probable cause hearing or arraignment has been set for Sept. 30, depending on whether the government secures an indictment on the charges.

During the hearing, Routh gave routine information to court officials as to his work status and income. Speaking in a soft voice, he said that he was working and making around $3,000 a month, but has zero savings.

Routh said that he has no real estate or assets, aside from two trucks worth about $1,000, both located in Hawaii.

Routh also said that he has a 25-year-old son, whom he sometimes supports.