Former United States president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump faced an “assassination attempt” on Sep 15 at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, a second such attack on his life this year.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a statement said it is investigating "what appears to be an attempted assassination of former president”.
On July 13, Trump escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania where multiple gunshots were fired by a 20-year-old assailant named Thomas Matthew Crooks. The attack claimed the life of an innocent bystander while critically injuring two others. Trump was also wounded as one of the bullets grazed his ear.
"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 pm," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
Trump said that he was "safe and well" in a campaign email to his supporters. “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! Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”
The suspect stuck the barrel of a rifle through the fence at the edge of the golf course while the former president was golfing, officials said. Secret Service agents on the course spotted the weapon and opened fire on the man who fled.
He left behind his rifle, two backpacks, a scope, and a GoPro camera before fleeing in an SUV. The suspect identified as Ryan Routh 58, was later arrested in a nearby county. Routh, a native of Hawaii is a long-time democrat supporter, media reports said.
The suspect has allegedly made 19 donations that add up to more than $140 since 2019 as per records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Law enforcement officials were quoted as saying that the suspect remained calm and showed little emotion when stopped and did not question why he was being pulled over.
Following the assassination attempt, President Joe Biden vowed to make sure the Secret Service has "every resource" for Trump's safety, adding that "there is no place for political violence."
"I am relieved that the former President is unharmed," Biden posted on X. "There is an active
