FBI investigating 2nd possible assassination attempt against Trump; suspect identified

Two months after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one man was killed and two others seriously injured, law enforcement believes there may have been a second attempt on the former president’s life.
Trump was golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a Secret Service agent, who was ahead of Trump, saw the muzzle of a rifle poking through the chainlink fence. The Secret Service agent shot at the suspect, who fled the scene, according to media reports.
The suspect, who was apprehended and taken into custody, was identified by multiple media sources as Ryan Wesley Routh. His motive was not immediately clear.
The FBI is now overseeing the investigation, in conjunction with the Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies.
“The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” an FBI statement said, according to CNN.
Earlier Sunday, the Trump campaign announced that shots had been fired near the former president at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,” Steven Cheung, Trump’s spokesman, said in an initial statement.
During a press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said a Secret Service agent was one or two holes ahead of Trump when they spotted the nose of a rifle aimed toward the golf course. The agent fired toward the gunman, who was located near the golf course property line.
Bradshaw said law enforcement recovered an “AK-47 style rifle with a scope, two backpacks which were hung on the fence that had ceramic tile in them, and a GoPro” from the bushes.
Trump was taken to safety after shots were fired.
The Trump campaign later sent out an email in which Trump said he was “safe and well.”
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” the email said. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
No injuries have been reported, according to The Associated Press.
When asked during the press conference about whether law enforcement would increase protection for Trump, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said they’ve put more resources toward protecting the former president since July’s assassination attempt.
The “threat level is high,” he said.
Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, told The New York Times that a “person of interest” has been detained and that “intent right now is unknown.”
Later, Sheriff William D. Snyder of Martin County, Florida, confirmed that a driver believed to be connected to the incident was detained while driving northbound on Interstate 95 out of Palm Beach County, per the Times.
The Associated Press is reporting that the person who was detained was the same person who was at the golf course with the rifle.
“The person dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV” after the Secret Service fired at him, the AP reported, noting that FBI officials say the incident appears to be an assassination attempt.
Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, announced on X that the Secret Service is investigating the situation “in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.”
Like Cheung, Guglielmi emphasized that Trump is safe.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the shooting, according to a statement from the White House.
“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,” the statement said.
Harris later posted on X about the shooting.
“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,” she wrote.
Trump returned to his home in Florida after spending time in Utah Saturday at a fundraising event, as the Deseret News previously reported.
This story will be updated.