Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump survived a second assassination attempt on Sunday when Secret Service agents engaged a gunman at the edge of the former president's golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla. Trump was golfing at the time and was a few hundred yards away.
According to law enforcement, Secret Service agents were ahead of Trump on the golf course when one of them noticed a rifle barrel protruding from a fence. An agent opened fire on the gunman, who then fled. Law enforcement later arrested him in another county, the Associated Press reported.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said the shooter was hiding in bushes on the edge of the property, and police found an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks hanging from a fence and a GoPro camera.
“The Secret Service agents who were on the course did a fantastic job,” Bradshaw said at a news conference.
He said the agents are always “one step ahead” of Trump and can sense danger.
“He spotted the barrel of a rifle protruding from the fence and immediately engaged the individual, at which point the individual fled,” Bradshaw said.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said they found an AK-style rifle with a scope in the brush, as well as ceramic tiles hanging from a fence and two backpacks containing a GoPro camera. https://t.co/pK5gQAolal pic.twitter.com/BNY8ptSCNh
— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) September 15, 2024
The FBI issued a statement saying it was “investigating what appears to be an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.”
The assassination attempt came just two months after a July 13 attempt that nearly killed Trump when a bullet pierced his earlobe. Former President Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts, 17 days apart, in 1975 while in office.
“I heard shots fired near me but before rumors spread and get out of control, I want you to hear this first: I am safe and well!” Trump wrote in an email to his supporters.
He added: “Nothing can slow me down. I will never surrender!”
“President Trump is safe despite the shooting that occurred nearby,” Trump campaign communications director Stephen Chang said in a statement.
Evangelist Franklin Graham urged Christians to continue praying.
“We don't know many details yet,” Graham wrote as more details emerge, “but this case is a powerful reminder that we need to pray for this man as we try to determine exactly what happened.”
It's evening where I am in Rome, and the news is reporting that there has been a shooting at the president's home. Donald TrumpIt happened near Florida. Details are still unclear, but this is a strong reminder that we need to pray as we try to figure out exactly what happened…
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) September 15, 2024
Sen. Tim Scott of Lausanne also urged Americans to pray.
“After the second assassination attempt on President Trump, it's time for Christians, left and right, red and blue, black and white, to come together and pray for our country and pray for a political process free of violence,” Scott said. said“This is what America needs. We need believers on their knees praying to God that all the candidates will be safe.”
After the second assassination attempt on President Trump, it is time for Christians, left and right, red and blue, black and white, to come together in prayer for our country and for a political process free of violence.
That's what America needs. We need people who believe… pic.twitter.com/NDVznhmFt8
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) September 15, 2024
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Robert Perry/Stringer
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
