The would-be assassin, who traveled to Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, reportedly set up a sniper base at a security weak spot that has previously been targeted by paparazzi.
The suspected assassin, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, allegedly brought a scoped rifle to Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, and stood within 300 to 500 yards of the former president when a Secret Service agent spotted him in the shrubbery and fired four to six shots at him. He was arrested outside the golf course a short time later. The Secret Service confirmed Monday that the suspected assassin did not exchange gunfire or have Trump in his line of sight.
According to a recent Fox News report, the assassin Camped He spent 12 hours infiltrating the sniper's nest, even bringing snacks with him – a vantage point so frequented by paparazzi that it has long been considered a security risk.
“The tree-lined walkways at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida have long been known as a prime location for photographers seeking to capture images of former presidents and other dignitaries,” the report noted, confirmed by Dave Aronberg, state's attorney for the 15th Judicial District, which covers Palm Beach County.
“We've had people take pictures of former presidents while they're golfing,” Dave Aronberg said. “They went through the shrubs and stuck a camera through a fence. You'd think maybe someone would consider scouting the area.”
Aronberg praised the Secret Service for its extensive coverage.
“There's a lot of area to cover,” he says. “It's not easy just walking around all the time because someone could sneak in and slip out.”
However, an anonymous photo agency said: New York Post Photographers often make their presence known to the Secret Service and often maintain good relationships with agents when it comes to finding good locations to take photos.
Homeless people have been caught loitering around the fence.
Pat Diaz, a former Miami-Dade County homicide detective, said the Secret Service should conduct routine perimeter patrols with police dogs prior to the president's arrival.
“Obviously they didn't check the exterior,” he said.
