Name: Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Was Near Golf Course for Nearly 12 Hours: Criminal Complaint
Uploaded: 2024-09-17T18:04:27.000Z
Description: 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.

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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.

The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was charged Monday with federal gun crimes. Additional and more serious charges are possible as the investigation continues and prosecutors seek an indictment from a grand jury.

Follow here for the live updates:
<h2>Trump Gives Shoutout to Elon Musk</h2>
As he participated in an event on his X social media platform, Trump gave a shoutout to Elon Musk, saying the tech billionaire “endorsed me for president so strongly.”

Trump also called Musk his “friend,” commending his efforts on space travel in particular.

Musk deleted a post on X in which he said “no one is even trying to assassinate” Biden and Harris in the wake of the apparent assassination attempt on Trump.

Early Monday, after taking down the post about the apparent Trump assassination, Musk wrote on the platform: “Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X.”

Musk, who has nearly 200 million followers on the social media site he bought for $44 billion in 2022, has increasingly embraced conservative ideologies in recent years and endorsed Trump for president.
<h2>Trump Recounts Conversation With Biden</h2>
Trump also talked about his conversation with Biden, with whom he spoke earlier Monday about the apparent assassination attempt.

“He was very nice, that he called up to make sure that I was OK,” Trump said of his conversation with the president, adding that Biden also sought his input on whether “we need more people on my detail.”

Biden told reporters that the Secret Service “needs more help,” adding, “Thank God the president’s OK.”
<h2>A ‘Much Better Result’</h2>
Trump says the apparent attempt on his life was a “much better result” than when he was shot in July because no others were wounded or killed.

“That was some crazy day, and yesterday you had another one with a different result, actually much better result,” Trump said.

The host noted that some of Trump’s sons were in the room for the interview.
<h2>Trump Recounts Assassination Attempt in First Public Interview Since Incident</h2>
Trump recounted his personal experience during an apparent assassination attempt Sunday in his first public interview since the incident.

“So I was playing golf with some of my friends, it was on a Sunday morning, very peaceful, very beautiful weather. Everything was beautiful, nice place to be, and all of a sudden we heard shots being fired in the air, and I guess probably four or five, and it sounded like bullets,” Trump said during a conversation on X Spaces about cryptocurrency.

“The Secret Service knew immediately it was bullets, and they grabbed me,” Trump said.

“I would have loved to have sunk that last putt, but we decided, ‘Let's get out of here,’” Trump said.

After the incident, Trump and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff, were taken by Secret Service agents to the more defensible clubhouse.

Trump said that he was impressed with the actions of the Secret Service agent who first noticed the gunman, whose barrel was barely visible through the perimeter fence and bushes surrounding Trump International Golf Club.

“Secret Service did a great job … the sheriff’s office, law enforcement, everyone did a great job,” Trump said.
<h2>Trump Calls Second Assassination Attempt: 'Quite Something'</h2>
Trump began a livestream discussion on X Monday night by talking about the second assassination attempt on his life.

“It was quite something,” Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. “But it worked out well and Secret Service did an excellent job, and they have the man behind bars and hopefully he’s going to be there for a long time.”

Trump called the suspected would-be assassin a “very, very dangerous person.”
<h2>Biden Calls Trump to Speak About Secret Service Protection</h2>
The White House said that Biden spoke with Trump on Monday, following an earlier unsuccessful attempt by the president to connect with Trump.

“President Biden just spoke with former President Trump and conveyed his relief that he is safe,” a White House official said.

“The two shared a cordial conversation, and former President Trump expressed his thanks for the call.”

Trump, in a statement issued by his campaign, said, “We had a very nice call. It was about Secret Service protection.” His campaign did not provide additional details.
<h2>Biden Condemns Assassination Attempt Against Trump</h2>
Biden on Monday again decried the assassination attempt against Trump and said America must work to stop the scourge of political violence.

“America has suffered too many times the tragedy of an assassin’s bullet,” Biden said at the start of an address to the National HBCU Week Conference in Philadelphia. “It solves nothing. It just tears the country apart. We must do everything we can to prevent it and never give it any oxygen.”

Biden in his speech added that Acting Director Secret Service Ronald Rowe, Jr. was in Florida “assessing what happened and determining whether any further adjustments need to be made to ensure” Trump’s safety.
<h2>Nassau County to Dedicate Adequate Security for Trump Rally</h2>
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says the county is dedicating a “small army” of law enforcement to handle security around Trump’s planned rally at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island on Wednesday.

“We feel very confident that we will have the assets necessary to make sure that this is safe for everyone,” Blakeman said at a news briefing Monday afternoon.

Patrick Ryder, the police commissioner in Nassau County, said “This will be the safest place in the country on that day.”
<h2>Justice Department to ‘Bring Every Available Resource’ to Investigation: Garland</h2>
Attorney General Merrick Garland says the Justice Department will “work tirelessly to ensure accountability” in the apparent assassination attempt of Trump.

Garland said in an emailed statement that the Justice Department will “bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.”

“We are grateful that the former president is safe,” Garland said.
<h2>Trump Was 'Courageous', His Golf Partner Says</h2>
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s golf partner on Sunday, says the former president’s reaction to the apparent assassination attempt was “courageous and stoic.”

The real estate investor said Monday in a post on the social platform X that Trump, his “very close friend,” was “concerned about his friends first before thinking of himself,” something Witkoff said exemplified “the truest example of leadership.”

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president’s, said on air Sunday that he had spoken with Trump and Witkoff, who told him that Secret Service agents “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him.
<h2>Suspect Was Near Golf Course for Nearly 12 Hours: Criminal Complaint</h2>
The criminal complaint against Routh, the suspect behind the second assassination attempt of Trump, has been released.

Routh was in the vicinity of Trump International Golf Club, where Trump went golfing, between approximately 1:59 a.m. to 1:31 p.m. ET, according to the complaint. Routh allegedly pointed his gun through the fence surrounding the members-only club while Trump was playing golf; a Secret Service agent saw the barrel and fired at Routh, who fled the scene but was captured soon thereafter.

A digital camera, two bags, a loaded "SKS-style 7.62x39 caliber rifle" with a scope, and a plastic bag containing food were recovered at the scene, according to the affidavit. The serial number on the rifle was “obliterated” and “unreadable to the naked eye,” it said.

Routh was charged on the federal level with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Those charges together carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, with the former charge being the most serious and carrying a penalty of up to 15 years behind bars.

The prosecution requests Routh remain in detention ahead of his trial, according to the complaint.

Routh made an eight-minute court appearance Monday morning but did not enter a plea.

Read the complaint <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25145980-routh-criminal-complaint">here</a>.
<h2>Body Camera Footage Shows Routh’s Arrest</h2>
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.


<h2>Law Enforcement Block and Search Trump’s Golf Course</h2>
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.
<h2>Update on Investigation Expected Monday Afternoon</h2>
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.
<h2>Court Documents Detail Charges and Penalties Routh Could Face</h2>
The court documents also detail the charges and possible penalties Routh could face if convicted.

The charge of a convicted felon in possession of a firearm 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.
<h2>Routh Was Stopped by Officers 45 Minutes After He Fled the Golf Course</h2>
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.
<h2>Federal Prosecutors’ Complaint Against Routh Filed in Court</h2>
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.
<h2>GOP Senator Works on Bill to Provide Better Security for Trump</h2>
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) announced that he would put forth legislation that would enable better security for Trump following the second assassination attempt against him—an incident Scott called “unacceptable and sickening.”

“I’m working on a bill to increase Secret Service protections to the same level as POTUS & VP. We cannot let this happen again,” Scott <a href="https://x.com/SenRickScott/status/1835683411161149746">posted</a> on X.

West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that the perimeter surrounding Trump International Golf Club, where Trump was golfing, was not secured because Trump is not the sitting president and that the Secret Service can only provide limited coverage.
<h2>Florida to Conduct State-level Investigation Into Assassination Attempt</h2>
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state will be conducting its own investigation into the apparent assassination attempt on 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.

The governor said he had not yet spoken to Trump.
<h2>Suspect Charged with Federal Gun Crimes</h2>
Routh has had his first appearance in federal court.

During an eight-minute hearing, prosecutors levied two charges against him: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 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 scheduled 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.

A van believed to be carrying Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, leaves the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 16, 2024. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)


<h2>House Will Demand More Secret Service Protection for Trump, Johnson Says</h2>
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the House will be demanding more Secret Service protection for Trump, saying he needs more attention than any other protectee.

“He’s the most attacked. He’s the most threatened, even probably more than when he was in the Oval Office,” Johnson said on “Fox & Friends.” “We are demanding in the House that he have every asset available.”

The Republican speaker was on his way to visit Trump on Sunday when the former president was targeted while golfing. The suspect is now in custody.

Johnson and his wife, Kelly, visited with Trump afterward for about three hours, and the speaker said he was in “good spirits.”
<h2>Routh Makes Initial Court Appearance</h2>
Routh briefly entered a Florida courtroom Monday morning for his initial appearance, wearing a dark blue jail jumpsuit and his arms and legs shackled. He sat quietly for about five minutes with no visible signs of nervousness before marshals led him back out to await his hearing.

Security and law enforcement officials stand outside the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, where Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, is scheduled to appear in court in West Palm Beach, Fla, on Sept. 16, 2024. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)


<h2>Suspect to Make Initial Court Appearance</h2>
Routh, the suspect behind the second assassination attempt of Trump, will be making his initial court appearance at 10 a.m. ET at the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in West Palm Beach, Shanda Walker, courtroom deputy for the magistrate judge section, told The Epoch Times.

He will appear before Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe, she said.

The charges against Routh will be announced during the court appearance. On Sunday, Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Florida's Palm Beach County, says that his prosecutors are working on charging the suspect with state-level crimes, but said that federal charges are also possible.

Routh was just hundreds of yards away from Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. A Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a gun through a hole in a fence at the perimeter of the course and fired at the suspect. The suspect did not fire shots, West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told Fox News.

Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 30, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo)


<h2>Sheriff: No Shots Fired By Suspect Toward Trump, Golf Course</h2>
The suspect did not fire shots at the Trump International Golf Club, where  Trump was golfing Sunday, according to West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

​​“He did not get off any rounds, and that was because the U.S. Secret Service agent acted so quickly,” Bradshaw told Fox News, referring to the suspect, Routh.

“At the end of the day, the system worked,” he said.

“This is not like what happened in Butler,” Bradshaw said, referring to the July 13 attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally, days before Trump became the GOP presidential nominee.

The suspect was 300 to 500 yards from Trump when a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a rifle through a fence as Routh was allegedly in the bushes outside the perimeter of the course. The agent fired at the suspect, who fled, and was later arrested on a nearby highway.
<h2>Congressional Task Force Requests Secret Service Briefing</h2>
The leaders of a bipartisan task force in Congress that has been investigating the assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July said it is monitoring the Florida situation and has requested a briefing by the Secret Service.

“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.). “The Task Force will share updates as we learn more.”
<h2>Impact on Trump Campaign Schedule Unknown</h2>
It was not immediately clear whether the incident would affect Trump's campaign schedule.

On Monday night, he was set to speak from Florida about cryptocurrency live on the social media site X. Trump planned a town hall Tuesday in Flint, Michigan, with his former press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, followed by a rally Wednesday on New York’s Long Island.

Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast swing that included a Friday night rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser. His campaign had not advised about any public plans for Trump on Sunday. He often spends the morning playing golf before having lunch at the club, one of three he owns in the state.
<h2>Trump Campaign Credits Secret Service With Keeping Trump Safe</h2>
Trump campaign leaders are crediting the Secret Service with keeping the former president safe following an apparent assassination attempt in Florida.

In an email sent to staff Sunday evening, senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote, “Today, for the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.”

“Thankfully, no one was injured at the Golf Course. President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,” they wrote.

They added that campaign staffers’ safety is “always our top priority” and asked those receiving the email to “remain vigilant” and “observant and maintain a constant level of situational awareness."
<h2>Trump Tells Supporters He Is Safe and Well</h2>
In an email to supporters, Trump said: “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!”

“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” the former president said.

<em>Joseph Lord, T.J. Muscaro, Emel Akan, Jackson Richman, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em>

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