Donald Trump safe and suspect held after man spotted with rifle

Sheriff recounts the moment when the suspect was taken into custody at Trump’s golf course.

BBC News, New York

Authorities in the United States have confirmed that former President Donald Trump is unharmed after what seems to have been an assassination attempt at his golf course in Florida. A "possible suspect" is now in police custody.

Agents from the Secret Service noticed the end of a rifle sticking out from behind some shrubs and began shooting, according to officials. The FBI reported that Trump was located between 300 and 500 yards (approximately 275 to 455 meters) away during the incident.

At the site, authorities later discovered a firearm resembling an AK47, equipped with a scope, as well as two backpacks and a GoPro camera.

A bystander claimed to have seen the suspect emerge from behind some bushes and hop into a black Nissan after the officers had shot at him several times.

The observer snapped a photo of the car and its license plate, and it was pulled over later in Martin County, which is north of the club.

"We contacted the Martin County Sheriff's Office to inform them, and they managed to locate the vehicle, stop it, and apprehend the individual," stated Sheriff Ric Bradshaw from Palm Beach County.

"Afterward, we brought the eyewitness to the scene, and he confirmed that he recognized the individual who emerged from the bushes and jumped into the car," the sheriff said during a news conference.

In a message to his followers, Trump mentioned that he was "doing fine and secure."

"I won't let anything hold me back," he stated. "I refuse to give up!"

The event occurred nearly two months after a shooter tried to kill Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring his ear.

The Secret Service announced on X that they are looking into a "protective incident" involving Trump that occurred just before 2:00 PM EST (7:00 PM BST) on Sunday.

Police vehicles are obstructing traffic close to the Trump golf course.

Sheriff Bradshaw later remarked that "the Secret Service agent present at the event performed exceptionally well."

He explained, "They have an agent who moves ahead of the president by one location. This agent managed to see a rifle barrel protruding from the fence and quickly acted to confront the person responsible. At that moment, the individual ran away."

The White House announced that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were informed about an event that reportedly occurred at the Trump International Golf Course, "where former President Trump was playing golf."

"They feel at ease knowing he is safe. Their team will provide them with regular updates," the White House stated.

The discovery of an assault rifle equipped with a scope and two backpacks—one of which held a ceramic tile—was made at the golf course.

Harris shared on X that she had been updated about the situation and was relieved to hear that Trump was safe. She stated, "There is no room for violence in America."

On July 13, Trump was hurt while speaking to a group of people in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a shooter named Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on him with an AR-15-style rifle from the top of a nearby building.

The incident resulted in the death of one person in the audience, while Crooks, aged 20, was shot and killed on-site by a sniper from the Secret Service.

The Secret Service came under heavy criticism regarding how the gunman from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, managed to shoot at the former president.

The head of the agency, Kimberly Cheatle, stepped down just two weeks after the event.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Donald Trump responded with a declaration of defiance, stating, "I refuse to give in!"