The man who allegedly pointed an AK-style rifle over the fence at Trump International Golf Club, where former President Trump was playing, has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh. Multiple media outlets reported the news.
Routh was reportedly seen by Secret Service agents carrying a rifle on the grounds of a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
He is a white male, 58 years old, NewsNation reported:The outlet cited law enforcement sources, adding that the suspect was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, citing online records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
Palm Beach County State's Attorney Dave Aronberg told NewsNation that Routh had not previously been under law enforcement surveillance.
Authorities said at a press conference Sunday that Secret Service agents were stationed at several locations on the course ahead of Trump when they noticed a man pointing a rifle around the perimeter of the course. The rifle was pointed in bushes about 300 to 500 yards away, police said.
Secret Service agents fired shots at the suspect, who dropped the gun and fled in an SUV. Police said a witness took photos of the suspect's vehicle, leading authorities to eventually pursue the suspect on I-95 from Palm Beach County to Martin County, where he was arrested at the scene.
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder told NewsNation that the suspect “was unarmed when he exited his vehicle” and appeared calm and expressionless. The suspect did not question why he was being pulled over, Snyder added.
About an hour after the Secret Service fired shots at the suspect, the Trump campaign released a statement saying the former president was “safe.”
Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the assassination attempt on President Trump.
Louth's As social media suggested He has been vocal about the Ukraine war and The New York Times I interviewed him. Last year, Routh wrote for The New York Times for a feature story about pro-Ukrainian foreign fighters. The paper said Routh, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, recruited former Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban and traveled to Ukraine in 2022 to fight for the conflict-hit country.
Law enforcement officials told The Times that Routh had been living in Hawaii prior to Sunday's incident.
According to NewsNation, Aronberg of the State Attorney's Office said he expects Routh will be charged with terrorism and weapons offenses.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
Updated at 9:41 p.m.
