The man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump for the second time has been revealed as Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old activist with strong pro-Ukraine views.
He was arrested in Florida after Secret Service agents spotted a rifle protruding from bushes at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
According to law enforcement, Routh had been hiding out with an AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera.
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The suspect, who had previously traveled to Ukraine in 2022, is believed to have advocated for U.S. citizens to join the fight against Russian forces.
After being spotted, Routh fled the scene in a black Nissan but was quickly apprehended. Police also confirmed the recovery of the weapon and gear left behind near the golf course.
Routh remains in custody and is being interrogated by authorities.
This incident comes just two months after Trump survived another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, where he was grazed by a bullet during a rally.
On this occasion, Trump was escorted to safety after Secret Service agents opened fire on Routh, who had managed to get within 500 yards of the former president before attempting to escape.
Routh, a registered Democrat from North Carolina, had previously voted for Trump in 2016 but later shifted his allegiance.
Public records show that he has a lengthy criminal history, including over 100 charges and multiple arrests between 1998 and 2019.
Notably, he was convicted in 2002 for possessing a weapon of mass destruction after being found with an automatic machine gun.
Routh’s social media activity also shows that he had been vocal about his support for Ukraine and critical of Russia’s invasion.
He encouraged others to fight alongside Ukrainian forces and even suggested that U.S. soldiers be granted paid leave to join the battle.
His posts also called for U.S. leaders, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, to visit the victims of previous violence at Trump rallies.
Authorities are still piecing together the details of this latest incident. It is unclear whether Routh fired his weapon during the standoff, as investigators are still trying to determine if the shots heard at the scene came exclusively from Secret Service agents.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the suspect flee in his vehicle, which was later identified using surveillance images and impounded by law enforcement.
In a social media post following the incident, Trump reassured his followers that he was unharmed, declaring, “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but I AM SAFE… Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” He returned to the golf course shortly after the situation was under control.
This latest attempt on Trump’s life is being treated as a serious threat by the FBI, Secret Service, and local law enforcement, who continue to investigate Routh’s motives and any potential accomplices.
The former president was at his National Golf Club, which is located only five miles from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, a frequent destination when he is not on the campaign trail.
As the investigation unfolds, the political and legal ramifications of this near-tragedy are sure to continue making headlines.
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