Crime
Suspect in Trump assassination attempt in West Palm Beach identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh
The FBI announced on Sunday that it is investigating what “appears to be an attempted assassination” of Donald Trump, just two months after an earlier attempt on his life during a rally in Pennsylvania. The former president is safe following shots fired at Trump International Golf Club in South Florida. Hereโs a breakdown of the incident:
Rifle and belongings found in the bushes: Authorities discovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks containing ceramic tiles, and a GoPro camera at the suspect’s location in the bushes.
Secret Service spots a rifle: A Secret Service agent, stationed a few holes ahead of Trump, noticed a rifle barrel protruding from a fence and engaged the suspect.
Gunfire during golf: Trump, along with donor Steve Witkoff, was moving between the fifth and sixth holes at his West Palm Beach golf course when the gunshots rang out. The course was immediately locked down, according to sources.
Sheriff alerted: Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that his office was alerted at 1:30 p.m. ET by the Secret Service regarding the gunfire.
Suspect spotted in the bushes: A witness saw the suspect fleeing from the bushes and managed to take a photo of his vehicle, leading to his apprehension, according to the sheriff.
Police flood the highway: Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder stated that law enforcement “flooded” Interstate 95 and shut down a large section of the highway before safely stopping the suspectโs vehicle and detaining him.
Suspect in custody: The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was unarmed when taken into custody and has not made any statements regarding his involvement, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Bradshaw.
The suspect in the Trump assassination attempt, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was interviewed by Newsweek Romania in 2022.
The report revealed that Routh had been involved in recruiting foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine.
Summary of press conference:
- At 1:30 p.m., the Secret Service spotted a man with a rifle along the fence at Trump’s golf course.
- Suspect was armed with an AK-47-style rifle with a scope. He also had a GoPro.
- Gunman was about 300-500 yards away from Trump
- Secret Service engaged the suspect, firing at least 4 shots.
- Unclear whether the suspect fired any shots.
- A witness saw a man running out of the bushes and jump into a black SUV.
- The witness took a photo of the suspect’s car and license plate.
- The suspect was later detained in Martin County. Police flew the witness up there to confirm they had the right person in custody.
- Being treated as an apparent assassination attempt.
Christian County, Mo. โ Authorities have identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting a deputy with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop as Richard Bird.
At the time the Blue Alert was issued, the suspect had not yet been taken into custody.
According to law enforcement officials, the deputy initiated a traffic stop involving a 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck along State Highway 160 near Highlandville.
During the stop, the suspect allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding the deputy before fleeing the scene.
The suspect was reported to have traveled southbound on Highway 160 following the shooting.
Authorities described the suspect vehicle as a black 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck equipped with a silver brush guard, black body trim, tinted rear windows, and a three-ball trailer hitch. The vehicle was bearing Missouri license plate 9MG-X36.
A statewide Blue Alert was issued to notify the public and assist in locating the suspect.
Law enforcement officials urged residents not to approach the vehicle or suspect if located, but instead to immediately call 911 and provide detailed information while remaining at a safe distance.
Christian County is situated south of Springfield and north of Branson, an area that sees significant travel due to its proximity to the Ozarks.
Multiple agencies across the region coordinated efforts in response to the alert.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the status of the investigation.
Law enforcement officials expressed their condolences to the deputyโs family, colleagues, and the community as they continue to pursue justice in the case.