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Trump was targeted in apparent 'attempted assassination,' the FBI says
Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, arrives at Harry Reid International Airport to board a plane after a campaign trip on Saturday in Las Vegas.
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Alex Brandon
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AP
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Former President Donald Trump is safe after shots were fired at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., while Trump was golfing there on Sunday afternoon.
A suspect, identified by local officials as Ryan Wesley Routh, is in custody.
The FBI said it is investigating the shooting as an attempted assassination — making it the second time a gunman targeted Trump in just two months.
In July, the Republican presidential nominee was wounded by a gunshot at a rally in Butler, Pa.
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What we know about the incident
In a news conference on Sunday, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the Secret Service alerted local authorities about multiple gunshots at the course around 1:30 pm ET.
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According to Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent who was stationed one hole ahead of Trump spotted an AK-style rifle sticking out of a fence at the golf course. The agent "immediately engaged" with the person holding the rifle. That's when the gunman took off in a black Nissan. A spokesperson for the Secret Service said agents opened fire at the individual.
Bradshaw said the suspect was about 300 to 500 yards from Trump. "With a rifle and scope like that, it's not a long distance," he said. He added that the suspect left two book bags and a GoPro camera.
A witness was able to provide authorities with the suspect's car model and license plate, according to Bradshaw. Officers later located Routh on Interstate 95.
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder told WPLG that the suspect was “relatively calm” when detained. “He was not displaying a lot of emotions. Never asked, ‘What is this about?’” Snyder added.
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Trump 'safe and well'
In an email sent out by his campaign, Trump wrote "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’s running mate Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) said he spoke to Trump after the shooting. “I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” he wrote on X.
Local officials said the whole golf course would have been surrounded if it had been a sitting president. But for a presidential nominee, there were only some Secret Service agents with him and the shrubbery surrounding the golf course made detection harder.
"The threat level is high," Rafael Barros, Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office, told news reporters, adding that “we have increased the amount of assets.” He added, "We live in dangerous times."
Biden and Harris express relief
The White House said President Biden and Vice President Harris were also briefed about the security incident at the Trump International golf course.
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"They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team," the statement said. Attorney General Merrick Garland has also been briefed and is monitoring the situation, his office said.
The Secret Service also briefed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about the incident, and he praised the Secret Service for their quick work.
"There is no place in this country for political violence of any kind. The perpetrator must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said in a statement.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Updated September 15, 2024 at 8:43 PM PDT
This story was updated with additional details provided at a news conference and additional new information from authorities.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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