By Ezekiel David
On Sunday, former US President Donald Trump was rushed to safety after an apparent assassination attempt at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
A previous shooting in July at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, left a rallygoer dead and the ex-president injured. This is the second attempt of this kind in less than two months.
Details of the Incident
The incident took place at the Trump International Golf Club, roughly 15 minutes from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Secret Service agents, who were conducting routine security sweeps, spotted the muzzle of a rifle, later identified as an AK-47-style weapon, protruding from shrubbery near the course. At the time, Trump was between 300 and 500 yards away from the gunman.
An agent immediately confronted the suspect, who fled the scene. Agents fired four to five rounds at the suspect, who escaped in a vehicle, leaving behind the rifle, two knapsacks, a weapon scope, and a GoPro camera. The suspect, later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was apprehended after a brief chase on the I-95 highway, 38 miles north of the golf course.
About the Suspect – Ryan Routh
Ryan Wesley Routh has been identified as the suspect in the incident. Routh’s son, Oran, described his father as a “loving and caring” individual, expressing disbelief over the events in Florida. Routh’s social media activity reveals a history of calls for foreign fighters to join Ukraine’s battle against Russian forces, alongside pro-Palestinian, pro-Taiwan, and anti-China sentiments. He had no known military experience but was involved in recruitment efforts for Afghan soldiers following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Routh also has a criminal history, having been found guilty of many felonies in Guilford County, North Carolina, between the years of 2002 and 2010. He has been charged with driving with a suspended licence, possessing stolen items, carrying a hidden weapon, resisting arrest, and hit-and-run incidents.
Trump’s Response
Trump was not hurt in the incident. His campaign team assured his fans shortly afterwards that he was “safe and well.” Trump-related the incident to Fox News host Sean Hannity, telling how, upon hearing gunfire, Secret Service agents hurried to protect him and spirited him out in a steel-reinforced vehicle.
Law Enforcement and Political Reactions
An investigation into the event is being led by the FBI in coordination with other law enforcement organisations. A wide range of resources, such as crisis response teams, bomb technicians, and evidence collectors, have been dispatched, according to FBI Miami Field Office spokesperson Jeffrey Veltri. Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden had received briefings on the situation, according to the White House. Democratic presidential contender Harris voiced her extreme concern over the situation.
Leaders from the bipartisan congressional task force investigating the previous assassination attempt in Pennsylvania expressed relief that Trump was unharmed but emphasised their ongoing concerns about political violence. Republican Congressman Mike Kelly and Democrat Jason Crow announced that the task force has requested a briefing with the Secret Service to review the incident and security measures.
Although further security measures have been put in place since the July event, Rafael Barros of the Secret Service stated that the threat level is still high. The Palm Beach County courthouse is expected to host Ryan Routh’s initial court appearance on Monday.
(Source: BBC)
