In a dramatic turn of events on Sunday afternoon, Florida authorities revealed details of a foiled assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was caught after an alert witness snapped a photo of him fleeing the scene. The incident occurred at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, and law enforcement is crediting both the witness and the quick actions of the Secret Service for averting what could have been a tragic outcome.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, speaking at a joint press conference with the FBI, recounted the chaotic moments that followed the shots-fired call from Secret Service at approximately 1:30 p.m. Authorities swiftly locked down the area around the golf course, but it was a witness who became pivotal in tracking down the suspect.
🚨BREAKING: Arrest Body cam footage of Trump’s attempted assassin Ryan Routh released pic.twitter.com/B7gucZA2m5
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 16, 2024
According to Sheriff Bradshaw, the witness reported seeing a man dashing out from the bushes and jumping into a black Nissan. In a stroke of luck, the witness snapped a photo of the getaway vehicle, capturing both the car and its license plate. This crucial piece of evidence was immediately fed into the county’s real-time crime center, which promptly flagged the vehicle on Interstate 95 as it sped toward Martin County.
Law enforcement acted swiftly. Martin County deputies intercepted the suspect’s vehicle, pulling it over and detaining the individual. When the witness was brought to the scene, they positively identified the suspect, solidifying the case against Routh.
Further investigation uncovered a chilling array of evidence left behind in the bushes. Authorities recovered an AK-47-style rifle equipped with a scope, along with two backpacks ominously filled with ceramic tiles. A GoPro camera was also discovered, suggesting the suspect may have intended to document the attack.
JUST IN: Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder suggests would-be Trump assass*n Ryan Routh could be part of a bigger conspiracy during a press conference.
The comments mirror those made by former assistant FBI director Chris Swecker.
Reporter: Does Ryan Routh have any ties to… pic.twitter.com/nXBQAFyI3x
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 16, 2024
Sheriff Bradshaw praised the efforts of the Secret Service, whose vigilance helped prevent the incident from escalating. “The agent on the course spotted the rifle barrel sticking out from the fence, immediately engaging the suspect, causing him to flee,” Bradshaw recounted.
However, Bradshaw acknowledged the inherent vulnerabilities in protecting a former president. The sprawling golf course, surrounded by dense shrubbery, provides ample cover for anyone attempting to breach security. Unlike a sitting president, Trump’s security perimeter is more limited. “If he was the sitting president, the entire golf course would have been surrounded,” Bradshaw explained. “But because he’s not, security is scaled to what the Secret Service deems necessary.”
The Secret Service later confirmed that Trump was unharmed and safe after the incident. A representative stated that agents opened fire on the gunman when they spotted him near the property line, although further details about the exchange are still under investigation.
The FBI has since taken the lead in the federal investigation, deploying multiple specialized teams to the scene, including bomb technicians and crisis response experts. FBI Miami Field Office Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri assured the public that the agency will utilize all available resources to support the investigation.