What we know so far about Trump assassination attempt
Photo credit: Getty Images
On Sunday, Donald Trump was quickly moved to a secure location following what the FBI called a possible assassination attempt at his golf club in Florida.
This event follows closely on the heels of a previous assassination attempt that occurred two months earlier in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot in the ear while he was at a campaign rally.
Information is still coming to light regarding the recent event. Here’s what we currently know.
What Happened During The Assassination Attempt?
The event took place at the Trump International Golf Club located in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Secret Service agents, who were stationed ahead of Trump on the course to perform security checks on the holes he was approaching, noticed the gunman.
Security officials indicate that the agents typically position themselves one step ahead of Trump's location.
County sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that the gunman was positioned in the bushes at the perimeter of the golf course, close to holes five, six, and seven.
At approximately 1:30 PM local time (5:30 PM GMT), officers noticed a rifle barrel sticking out from some bushes.
During a press conference, he stated that the shooter was located in a part of the bushes where he had a clear view of both openings.
Authorities indicated that Trump was positioned approximately 300 to 500 yards (274 to 557 meters) from the individual who was firing.
The dense bushes lining Congress Avenue – the road shown on the right in the picture below – could have provided some concealment for the suspect if he had chosen to hide among them.
Bradshaw stated, "The Secret Service acted precisely as they should have."
Who Is The Suspect And How Was He Caught?
Agents began shooting as soon as they saw the gunman, unleashing four to five shots. It's unclear if the gunman returned fire.
The suspect escaped in a vehicle. A bystander who observed the shooter emerge from the bushes managed to capture images of his car and license plate, as reported by the sheriff.
The man was subsequently apprehended and taken into custody on the I-95 freeway.
Officials reported that a rifle similar to an AK-47, a GoPro camera, and two backpacks were subsequently discovered close to the location where the shooter had taken cover.
A person identified as a "possible suspect" is now in detention.
Several officials have informed CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that the individual in question is named Ryan Wesley Routh.
Photo credit: Getty Images
During a press conference, officials displayed pictures of the suspect's possessions.
What’s Going On With Trump?
Trump was unharmed in the event. His campaign staff initially reported that there were "shots fired nearby."
Soon after his campaign team confirmed the event, Trump sent a message to his fundraising supporters stating: "I heard gunfire nearby, but before any speculation begins to spread, I wanted you to be the first to know: I AM SAFE AND SOUND."
In a subsequent campaign email, Trump was quoted as saying that his determination has only grown stronger following another assassination attempt on him.
At the same press conference, Jeffrey Veltri from the FBI's Miami Field Office stated that the bureau was at the forefront of the investigations, working in collaboration with various other law enforcement agencies.
"We've dispatched several teams, including investigators, crisis response personnel, bomb experts, and evidence handlers," Veltri stated. He emphasized that the "entire capabilities of the FBI," in conjunction with the US Secret Service, the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, and the Martin County Sheriff's Office, have been called into action.
The White House announced that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, were updated on the situation and felt relieved to hear that he was unharmed.
"There's no room for violence in America," Harris stated in a social media update.
Leaders of the bipartisan congressional committee established to look into the assassination attempt on July 13 in Pennsylvania expressed their relief that the former president was unharmed. However, they continue to be very worried about political violence and strongly denounce it in any form.
Republican Congressman Mike Kelly and Democrat Jason Crow stated that the task force has asked for a meeting with the Secret Service in order to gain insights into the events that unfolded and how security handled the situation.
On Sunday, Rafael Barros from the Secret Service informed the media that precautions had been implemented following the earlier assassination attempt, stating that "the threat level remains elevated."
Sheriff shares details about the time the suspect was captured at the Trump golf course.
