Trump targeted in another assassination attempt at West Palm Beach Golf Club

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Former President Donald Trump was targeted in another assassination attempt Sunday, this time at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire on the suspect, later identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who was seen in the bushes 400 to 500 yards from Trump, carrying an AK-47-style rifle, according to Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

Authorities engaged in a 45-minute car chase after Routh fled the scene in a black Nissan SUV before he was apprehended and detained by law enforcement close to the Palm Beach County border.

In the area near where Routh was spotted, officers discovered two backpacks, the firearm and a GoPro camera hanging from a chain-link fence.

Routh appeared in a Florida courtroom Monday morning, shackled and wearing a blue jumpsuit. He faces charges for possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

If convicted, Routh could face up to 15 years in prison on the first charge and an additional five years on the second charge. A bond hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23, with a probable cause hearing set for Sept. 30, pending whether the government secures an indictment on Routh’s charges.

The FBI is leading the investigation though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Sunday that the state will conduct an independent investigation into the assassination attempt.

Officials praised the U.S. Secret Service for keeping Trump safe, but continue to grapple with security concerns, given that he is no longer the sitting president.

Court records show Routh was previously convicted of more than 100 criminal counts in North Carolina for possessing a machine gun, classified as a weapon of mass destruction.

Routh’s online presence shows that he initially supported Trump during his 2020 campaign, but later became dissatisfied with his presidency. He also publicly supported Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion and helped recruit soldiers through a fundraising website.

In July, following an earlier attempt on the former president’s life during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Routh posted online, urging President Biden and Vice President Harris to visit the family of deceased firefighter Corey Comperatore.

In the post he criticized Trump, writing, “Trump will never do anything for them…show the world what compassion and humanity is all about,” referring to Biden and Harris.

This is an ongoing story. For the latest updates, visit apnews.com.

Gavin Rollman is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email gmr5526@psu.edu.