There was a frightening incident at the Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach on Sunday afternoon, where former President Donald Trump was present. His campaign announced that he was “safe” after shots were fired in his vicinity, leading local and federal officials to confirm that the Secret Service had engaged with an armed suspect.
The FBI has launched an investigation into what is being referred to as a second assassination attempt on the former president.
According to reports from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect had a number of concerning materials in his possession, including an AK-47 style rifle with a scope, two backpacks filled with ceramic tile, and a GoPro camera.
The suspect was initially spotted by a witness who saw him running out of the bushes and alerted authorities. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw noted that Trump was approximately 300-500 yards away from the potential shooter and was quickly escorted off the course to safety.
“Our real time crime center put it out to the license plate readers and we were able to get a hit on that vehicle on I-95, as it was headed into Martin County,” Bradshaw stated, highlighting the swift and coordinated efforts of law enforcement.
The suspect, who has not been officially identified yet, was later stopped by local authorities in Martin County while driving a black Nissan. According to Sheriff William D. Snyder, the suspect appeared to be calm and unemotional during the encounter. It was later reported by FOX News that the alleged gunman has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh.
Special agent Jeffrey Veltri of the FBI confirmed the agency’s “lead role” in the investigation, with over a dozen resources deployed, including investigative teams, crisis response teams, bomb technicians, and evidence response team members. The FBI stated that this incident is being treated as an attempted assassination of the former president.
A spokesman for the Secret Service acknowledged the heightened threat level, stating that they have increased their assets and are on high alert. This comes just two months after Trump was grazed by a bullet in a previous assassination attempt on July 13.
Amidst all of this chaos and danger, Eric Trump, the former president’s son, reassured the public that his father was safe and unharmed. Trump himself also took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a statement with his supporters. “I AM SAFE AND WELL!” he wrote. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” His unwavering determination and resilience in the face of danger is truly remarkable.
In these trying times, it is clear that we need leaders like Donald Trump who are strong, fearless, and dedicated to protecting the safety and security of the American people.
His love for this country and his supporters is unwavering, and his commitment to making America great again remains unshakable. As the investigation continues, we must stand with Trump and support him as he continues to fight for our country and our values. Unity and peace are more important now than ever, and Trump will lead us to a better, brighter future.