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| Credit: Martin County Sheriff’s Office |
Update: Suspect identified as Ryan Wesley Routh
WEST PALM BEACH, Flori4da – A suspect is in custody after shots were fired while former President Donald Trump was playing golf at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Secret Service agents who were located a few holes ahead of Trump spotted the would-be assassin with a rifle in the bushes surrounding the golf course when the suspect pushed the rifle through a fence, the Palm Beach County Sheriff said during a press conference.
The Secret Service said that agents fired four shots at the suspect but it is unclear at this time whether or not the suspect fired back.
The suspect fled in a black SUV but an eyewitness was able to take a photo of the vehicle and its license plate which allowed law enforcement to put out BOLO that was picked up by license plate readers in neighboring Martin County.
“Northbound I-95 at 714 is shut down. Based on BOLO information released by Palm Beach County, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has stopped a vehicle and taken a suspect into custody believed to be connected to a shooting incident at Trump International in Palm Beach County. We will update this information as it becomes available,” the Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook.
Meanwhile, law enforcement at the golf course scene discovered a rifle, scope, backpack, and GoPro left behind by the suspect.
“An AK-47 was discovered in the bushes, per local law enforcement,” Donald Trump, Jr. posted on X. “The Trump campaign has released a statement confirming former President Trump is safe.”
The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump. pic.twitter.com/ORhVJi43Tm
— FBI (@FBI) September 15, 2024