A WOULD-BE assassin was “armed with an AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks and a GoPro camera” while taking aim at Donald Trump as he played golf.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested after he was able to get within 500 yards of the former President at West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course Sunday.
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The suspect dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV, law enforcement officials told reporters.
Officials in Palm Beach Florida say they were able to track down the suspect after a witness saw him “running out of bushes”.
The witness took a picture of the vehicle after seeing the suspect jump into a black Nissan.
Police alerted the neighbouring Martin County Sheriff’s Office which pulled over the vehicle and detained the suspect.
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Routh was then taken into custody in a neighbouring county, they confirmed.
An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene.
A Secret Service agent walking on the golf course a hole ahead of where Trump was playing spotted the rifle sticking out of the fence and immediately opened fire, Palm Beach County Bradshaw said.
The agent fired four to six rounds, a Secret Service official said. The suspect then fled.
A witness who took a picture of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate number provided it to law enforcement officers.
Trump has returned to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The FBI has said it is investigating it as an “apparent assassination attempt”.
In a statement a short time ago, the former president said he was “safe and well” and “will never surrender”.
Details and background on the suspect shooter are yet to be released by West Palm Beach cops.
FBI LEADING INVESTIGATION
The FBI, now in charge of the investigation, said that multiple teams, including bomb technicians, are involved in the probe.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung earlier said in a statement: “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.”
The statement did not give any additional details.
Roughly two months ago, Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the entire golf course would have been lined with law enforcement if Trump was the sitting president.
“But because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the areas that the Secret Service deems possible.
“But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done, they provided exactly what the protection should have been and their agent did a fantastic job,” Bradshaw said.
Former presidents and their spouses have Secret Service protection for life, but the security posture around former presidents varies depending on threat levels and exposure, with the toughest typically being in the immediate aftermath of their leaving office.
Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again.
His running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, posted on X that he spoke to the former president before the news became public and said he was, amazingly, in good spirits.
Vance said there was still a lot that was not known about the incident.
Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, indicated the suspect will initially be charged at the state level but could also be charged with federal crimes.
Aronberg said his prosecutors are working up warrant and pretrial detention applications.
“Our filing of the warrant and charges at the state level does not preclude the federal charges that could be coming,” Aronberg said.
“But in the meantime, it looks like the warrants and a pretrial detention motion will happen first.”
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.
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The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation.
The White House added they are relieved to know Trump is safe.
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