Hours after a shooting took place near Donald Trump’s golf resort, the FBI has ruled the incident another assassination attempt.
Initially, the Trump campaign claimed that the shooting was not related to the former president. However, it has now been revealed that a man named Ryan Wesley Routh pointed a rifle toward the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The gunshots heard were a result of Secret Service agents shooting at Routh, who pushed the muzzle of his rifle through a chainlink fence outside the golf club before agents noticed and began firing.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says Routh’s AK-style rifle had a scope on it, and Trump was on the golf course when Routh allegedly positioned the weapon in his direction. The shooter also brought two backpacks with him, which he hung on a fence and a GoPro camera. Routh was about 400 yards to 500 yards away from Trump and concealed in shrubbery. After agents shot at him, Routh dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV. Authorities located him shortly after in a neighboring county. They soon learned that he was intentionally trying to kill Trump.
Sunday’s incident arrives just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee was the subject of another assassination attempt during his Pennsylvania rally. Trump issued a statement informing the public that he was not injured in the latest shooting.
“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER,” Trump wrote.
BREAKING: Statement from President Trump re shooting: pic.twitter.com/x2lPF9yTUm
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 15, 2024
Routh’s motive remains unknown.
