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A second assassination attempt on the life of Donald Trump was narrowly averted on Sunday after a Secret Service agent fired on an armed suspect at the former president’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Secret Service agent spotted a man pushing the barrel of an AK-47 rifle through the plant-lined fence surrounding the property, 300-500 yards from where Trump was playing golf.
The agent fired at the man, who fled. The suspect, identified by Associated Press as Ryan Wesley Routh, was later detained and is now in custody.
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors still spiralling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” wrote Trump in a statement sent out Sunday afternoon.
At a press conference, officials laid out a surreal timeline of events: the Secret Service agent had gone ahead to the next Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach hole to secure the location before Trump’s arrival, when the agent spotted the barrel of the rifle through the fence – and opened fire.
It “doesn’t appear” that the suspect was injured by gunfire during the exchange with Secret Service, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Authorities were also unsure if the suspect had fired back.
The suspect fled from the bushes into a car, leaving an AK-47 rifle with a scope (an attached lens for accuracy), two backpacks and a GoPro camera mounted on the fence.
But a nearby eyewitness took a photo of his car, which they shared with authorities.
“Fortunately a witness was located who said ‘Hey, I saw the guy running out of the bushes, he jumped into a black Nissan and I took a picture of the vehicle and tag,’ which was great,” said Bradshaw.
The suspected male gunman was detained on the I-95 in nearby Martin County. The eyewitness later gave positive identification of the detained suspect.
“The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” the bureau tweeted.
The shooting comes after an attempted assination on Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on 13 July, when a man fired shots at Trump from the rooftop of a nearby building, striking him in the ear.
“The threat level is high. We have increased the amount of assets [assigned to Donald Trump],” a spokesman for the Secret Service said at the press conference on Sunday, adding: “We live in dangerous times.”
An FBI spokesman urged others with knowledge of the situation or the suspect to contact the agency’s tip line.
The White House released a statement about the incident.
“The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” it read.
President Joe Biden released a longer statement later Sunday evening.
“I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed,” said the 46th president of the United States.
He continued: “There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened. As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety.”
Vice-president Kamala Harris added on Twitter: “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, responded to the news in a statement on Twitter.
I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 15, 2024
Still much we don't know, but I'll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.
“I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” he said. “Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.”
