A new assassination attempt against Donald Trump was foiled by the Secret Service on Sunday, September 15, while the former president was playing golf in West Palm Beach (Florida), not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence. It was around 1:30 p.m. when the police were alerted following shots fired. A member of the former president’s protection, who was participating in the “bubble” formed around him during his travels, was in charge of inspecting the next hole of the course, before the billionaire showed up there. He saw through the gate the barrel of a gun held by a man, in the bushes. The agent opened fire, causing the suspect to flee.
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The police quickly received help from a witness, explained Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, during a press conference with the other departments involved. This witness saw the man emerge from the bushes and get into a black Nissan. He had the presence of mind to photograph the back of the vehicle, including the license plate. From then on, the police were able to quickly intercept the Nissan and arrest the suspect, who offered no resistance. The latter had abandoned on the fence around the golf course an AK-47 assault rifle, a rifle scope, two backpacks and a GoPro camera, “which he intended to use to take pictures”according to the sheriff.
“We are not sure that the individual managed to open fire on our agents”said a representative of the Secret Service, Rafael Barros. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken charge of the investigation. At the time of the events, Donald Trump was in the previous hole, approximately “300 to 500 yards” (274 to 457 meters) from the potential shooter, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw estimated.
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President Joe Biden praised law enforcement in a statement and said: ” relieved ” to learn that his predecessor was unharmed. But there is no point in waiting for a break in the presidential campaign, fifty days before the election. The Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has promised that his state will lead “his own investigation”, as a sign of defiance towards federal authorities.
Citing official sources, the American press quickly identified the suspect, named Ryan Wesley Routh. White, originally from North Carolina and aged 58, he lived in Hawaii. His criminal record shows eight arrests, most for minor offences.
Mythomaniac, megalomaniac, weak-willed
But in late 2002, a man bearing his name was arrested and convicted in his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, for possession of a “weapon of mass destruction”a term used for an automatic rifle. After refusing to obey a traffic ticket while driving, he barricaded himself in a store, according to the local press.
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