UPDATE - The suspected gunman, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii, allegedly targeted former President Trump while he was golfing in Florida on Sunday afternoon.
Routh was able to get between 300 to 500 yards of Trump at a chain link fence on the edge of the course where he had an AK-47 and a GoPro camera set up to apparently film the planned shooting, according to the New York Post.
According to the Post, a Secret Service agent spotted and opened fire on Routh as he put his gun through the fence.
The suspect fled the scene and was arrested on I-95 a short time later.
Prior to the incident, Routh had posted on social media expressing his belief that "Democracy is on the ballot" this year and "we cannot lose," which echoed the anti-Trump rhetoric used by Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden.
Routh, who has a lengthy criminal record from North Carolina, frequently shared political posts and exclusively donated to Democratic candidates and causes since 2019.
Here's what we know about the assassination attempt on Trump in Florida, according to the New York Post:
Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach on Sept. 15, 2024.
Trump sent out a statement to supporters soon after to report that he is “SAFE AND WELL.”
The suspect — identified as Ryan Routh, 58, of Hawaii — was able to get between 300 to 500 yards of Trump at a chain link fence on the edge of the course where he had an AK-47 and a GoPro camera set up to apparently film the planned shooting.
Routh has a history of supporting progressive causes online and has made 19 donations to Democratic candidates since 2019.
A Secret Service agent spotted and opened fire on Routh as he put his gun through the fence. The suspect fled the scene and was arrested on I-95 a short time later.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Trump’s security detail was lighter because he isn’t a sitting president — despite the previous attempt on his life in July.
Donald Trump is "safe" after "multiple" gunshots were fired near his golf course in Florida, according to a statement from Steven Cheung, the Trump Campaign Communications Director.
The former president was out golfing at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida when the incident occurred.
Cheung said, “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time."
Anthony Guglielmi, the Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service, wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), "The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2 p.m."
He also said that Trump "is safe" and added that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office "will have more details soon."
According to The New York Post, two people exchanged gunfire outside of Trump International Golf Course and were targeting each other, not Trump.
Sources told the outlet that Trump "was never in danger" and that the incident occurred in an outside area of the club that is reportedly "known for high crime."
The shooting today took place about two months after Trump was rushed off the stage in which he was injured at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13. The incident has since been called an assassination attempt on the former president when he was mid-speech.
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