A chilling revelation has emerged in the investigation of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course. Authorities are grappling with the discovery of an AK-style rifle, left behind by the suspected gunman, Ryan Wesley Routh. The rifle’s serial number was found to be at least partially obliterated, making it significantly harder for investigators to trace the weapon’s origins. This detail adds a troubling layer to the already alarming incident, as authorities attempt to unravel how Routh, a convicted felon, came into possession of the firearm.
On Monday, Routh appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach to face serious charges. Currently, he stands accused of possessing a firearm with a destroyed serial number and illegally possessing a firearm due to his felon status. His criminal past, revealed through North Carolina court records, contains a string of convictions, any of which should have prohibited him from owning a weapon. With these charges laid out, law enforcement officials have hinted that more serious charges could soon follow as the investigation deepens.
Alleged would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh wrote 2023 memoir about how Ukraine must win ‘unwinnable war’ and advocating for killing Trumphttps://t.co/obhTBlMDRC
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) September 16, 2024
The incident, now being treated by the FBI as an assassination attempt, marked the second threat against Trump’s life in just two months. The timing of this close call—mere months ahead of a fiercely contested election—has heightened the sense of urgency, with concerns about politically motivated violence simmering across the country.
The tense situation unfolded rapidly Sunday afternoon, when a Secret Service agent, stationed a few holes ahead of Trump on the course, noticed Routh aiming the rifle through a fence toward the playing grounds. Though Routh had not fired, the agent responded swiftly, firing at least four shots in Routh’s direction. The suspect, positioned about 400 yards away from the former president, fled the scene in a black Nissan.
Routh didn’t get far. A quick-thinking witness had captured a picture of the car and license plate, which allowed authorities to track him down on I-95. A short pursuit ended with Routh’s capture. Authorities recovered the rifle, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera from the bushes where Routh had concealed himself, suggesting that the suspect had planned to document his attack.
Though Routh’s motivations remain unclear, initial investigations hint at a possible obsession with the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, this has not been confirmed as a driving factor behind the attack. What is known is that the attempted assassination has fueled an already divisive political climate.
Obviously Ryan Routh was a lunatic. But he was also a lunatic who was deeply enmeshed in the Ukraine mercenary cause and credible enough to be quoted by multiple news outlets
Ukraine and Congress must answer questions as to whether they met/directed resources to him https://t.co/CDJ58WopAj
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) September 16, 2024
Trump himself did not shy away from pointing fingers. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he claimed the suspect had been influenced by rhetoric from Democrats, particularly President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, both of whom he accused of depicting him as a threat to democracy. “He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump stated.