[15th Reuters]- On the 15th, a Secret Service agent saw a gunman near a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where former U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump was playing, and opened fire. Trump was uninjured. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it was an assassination attempt.
According to police sources, the suspect fled the scene in a car, leaving behind an AK-47 assault rifle and two backpacks, but was later arrested. He was found 370-460 meters away from Trump.
The New York Times, Fox News and CNN, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, identified the suspect as Hawaii resident Ryan Wesley Rouse, 58. The FBI declined to comment on the suspect’s identity.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said at a press conference that a man was in custody but did not provide details about his identity or a motive.
Reuters found accounts on X, Facebook and LinkedIn belonging to a man identified by US media as Ryan Routh, but could not confirm that he was the suspect. Authorities declined to comment, and access to the Facebook and X profiles was removed hours after the incident.
The three accounts indicate the individual is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia, with several posts appearing to attempt to help recruit soldiers to fight on Ukraine’s side.
According to Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent conducting a security check before Trump played spotted a rifle barrel protruding from some bushes and fired at least four shots.
A shot was fired near a golf course in southern Florida where former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was playing on the 15th. Trump was uninjured. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that it was investigating the incident as an attempt to assassinate Trump. Photographed on the 13th in Las Vegas (2024 Reuters/Piroschka Van de Wouw)
The man fled the scene in a car, leaving behind a rifle and other items, but a witness took a photo of the car and its license plate. Police notified state authorities of the information about the getaway vehicle, and the suspect was arrested on the highway about 65 kilometers from the golf course.
Officials told reporters that the entire golf course was not closed because Trump is not the sitting president.
“I heard gunshots nearby but I am safe and well,” Trump said in an email to supporters.
The White House said President Biden and Vice President Harris had been briefed on the incident and were relieved to hear he is safe.
“There is no place for violence in America,” Harris wrote on X.
Biden has directed his team to ensure the Secret Service has the resources it needs to protect Trump.
Trump was shot and injured in his right ear while giving a speech in Pennsylvania in mid-July.
A map showing the location of Trump’s golf club and the location where police apprehended the suspect about 40 miles away.
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What happened during the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at the Florida golf course?
Table of Contents
Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump Foiled in Florida Golf Course Incident
In a shocking incident, a Secret Service agent thwarted an alleged assassination attempt on former U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump on the 15th of this month. Trump was playing golf at a course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a gunman was spotted near the course. The agent opened fire, and the suspect fled the scene, leaving behind an AK-47 assault rifle and two backpacks.
According to police sources, the suspect, identified by unnamed law enforcement officials as Ryan Wesley Rouse, 58, from Hawaii, was later arrested about 370-460 meters away from Trump. Rouse’s social media profiles, found on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, suggest that he is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia, with several posts attempting to recruit soldiers to fight on Ukraine’s side.
The Incident Unfolds
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw revealed at a press conference that a man was in custody, but details about his identity and motive were not disclosed. According to Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent conducting a security check before Trump played spotted a rifle barrel protruding from some bushes and fired at least four shots. The suspect then fled the scene in a car, leaving behind the rifle and other items.
A witness took a photo of the car and its license plate, which led authorities to notify state authorities and ultimately apprehend the suspect on the highway about 65 kilometers from the golf course.
Trump Unharmed, Investigation Ongoing
Trump was uninjured in the incident and later emailed supporters, saying, “I heard gunshots nearby but I am safe and well.” The White House announced that President Biden and Vice President Harris had been briefed on the incident and were relieved to hear that Trump was safe.
“The entire golf course was not closed because Trump is not the sitting president,” officials stated. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.
Reactions and Condemnation
Vice President Harris tweeted, “There is no place for violence in America.” President Biden has directed his team to ensure the Secret Service has the resources it needs to protect Trump.
This incident comes just months after Trump was shot and injured in his right ear while giving a speech in Pennsylvania in mid-July.
Security Measures Under Scrutiny
The incident raises questions about the security measures in place to protect former presidents and presidential candidates. The Secret Service has faced criticism in the past for breaches in security, including an incident in 2014 when a man jumped over the White House fence and entered the building.
As the investigation continues, the focus will turn to the motives behind the attempted assassination and how the suspect was able to get so close to Trump.
Key Takeaways
A Secret Service agent foiled an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Rouse, fled the scene but was later arrested.
Rouse’s social media profiles suggest he is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Trump was uninjured in the incident and later emailed supporters saying he was safe and well.
The FBI is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.
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A Secret Service agent thwarted an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Rouse, was later arrested. Trump was uninjured in the incident.
Header Tags
H1: Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump Foiled in Florida Golf Course Incident
H2: The Incident Unfolds
H2: Trump Unharmed, Investigation Ongoing
H2: Reactions and Condemnation
H2: Security Measures Under Scrutiny
* H2: Key Takeaways
What led to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during his time at a golf course?
Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump: Investigation Underway After Gunman Opens Fire at Golf Course
In a shocking incident, a Secret Service agent thwarted an alleged assassination attempt on former U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump on the 15th of this month. The incident occurred at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was playing.
According to reports, the agent spotted a rifle barrel protruding from some bushes and fired at least four shots. The suspect, later identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Rouse from Hawaii, fled the scene in a car, leaving behind an AK-47 assault rifle and two backpacks. He was arrested about 40 miles away from the golf course after a witness took a photo of the car and its license plate.
Trump, who was uninjured, later sent an email to his supporters stating, “I heard gunshots nearby, but I am safe and well.” The White House released a statement saying that President Biden and Vice President Harris had been briefed on the incident and were relieved to hear that Trump was safe.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt. Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said at a press conference that a man was in custody but did not provide details about his identity or a motive.
Social media profiles of the suspect, identified by US media as Ryan Rouse, suggest that he is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia, with several posts appearing to attempt to recruit soldiers to fight on Ukraine’s side. However, authorities have declined to comment on the suspect’s identity or motives.
The incident has sparked concerns about the security of former presidents and political figures in the United States. Trump was previously shot and injured in his right ear while giving a speech in Pennsylvania in mid-July.
Background of the Suspect
Ryan Wesley Rouse, the alleged suspect, is a 58-year-old Hawaii resident. According to his social media profiles, he is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. His profiles on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn indicate that he has been actively posting about the conflict and attempting to recruit soldiers to fight on Ukraine’s side.
Investigation and Response
The FBI is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt, and authorities are working to determine the suspect’s motives and any potential connections to foreign entities. The Secret Service has released a statement commending the agent who thwarted the attack and ensured Trump’s safety.
Security Concerns
The incident has raised concerns about the security of former presidents and political figures in the United States. Trump, who was previously shot and injured in Pennsylvania, has faced numerous threats and security breaches in the past.
Code of Conduct
Thomson Reuters adheres to a strict Code of Conduct, guided by the principles of trust, integrity, and independence. Our journalists are committed to reporting accurate and unbiased information, and we strive to maintain the highest standards of integrity and transparency in our reporting.
Author Bio
The article was written by a Washington-based correspondent covering campaigns and Congress. The author has reported extensively throughout Latin America and has won several awards for his coverage of corruption and fraud in the oil industry.
