Law enforcement identified a suspected would-be assassin accused of targeting former President Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon in Palm Beach County.
The Republican presidential candidate was not injured during the shooting as he played golf at the Trump International Golf Club, in West Palm Beach. The U.S. Secret Service moved him to his property in Mar-a-lago.
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The FBI, the agency leading the investigation into the “apparent” assassination attempt had yet to release the suspect’s identity. Law enforcement sources told ABC News and The Associated Press the suspect was Ryan Wesley Routh. CNN reported Routh, 58, of Kaawa, Hawaii, has a minor arrest record. Records show he also lived in Greensboro, North Carolina.
A user identified as Routh on X wrote to Trump: “While you were my choice in 2016, I and the world hoped that president Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving; are [pejorative term]; I will be glad when you gone.”
Routh was very active on social media. He was a fierce supporter of Ukraine and wanted Americans to enlist to help in the fight against the Russians.
“I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE…Can I be the example We must win,” Routh wrote on X.
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder said deputies arrested him near Palm City after Palm Beach County deputies released a “very urgent” be on the lookout, or BOLO, alert for a black Nissan sports utility vehicle that a witness saw leaving the crime scene. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the gunman left behind a rifle with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera.
The apparent attempted assassination comes about two months after the U.S. Secret Service killed a man who also fired a rifle during an assassination attempt against Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. The bullet grazed Trump’s ear.
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Reporting from Palm Beach
6 p.m., Sunday
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Local 10 News partner WPTV contributed to this report.