A gunman concealed himself for almost 12 hours in the underbrush before Donald Trump‘s impromptu round of golf at his beachfront club in Florida, leaving residents astonished. Authorities indicate that this incident may represent the second assassination attempt on the former president within two months.
On a hot and cloudy Sunday afternoon, former President Donald Trump, accompanied by real estate developer Steve Witkoff, made his entrance at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
At 13:31 EDT (17:31 GMT), the former president was on the fifth fairway, located near bustling roads close to Palm Beach International Airport. It was at this moment that a member of his security detail noticed a rifle protruding from the vegetation by the sixth hole.
On Monday night, Trump, who was evacuated without injury, described hearing what he estimated to be “probably four or five” shots fired in the nearby vicinity.
According to federal investigators, a swift response from a Secret Service agent involved discharging a weapon towards a suspect positioned approximately 300-500 yards away, despite the lack of a direct line of sight to Trump.
“The Secret Service recognized right away that it was gunfire, and they quickly pulled me to safety,” Trump stated during a live-streamed event on X, formerly known as Twitter, from his Mar-a-Lago resort.
“We boarded the carts and proceeded at a commendable pace.” During my experience with an agent, I found their performance to be exceptional.
According to investigators, the gunman, who reportedly did not discharge any shots, was hidden among the meticulously maintained shrubbery and towering palm trees that border the expansive 27-hole course.
According to mobile phone records referenced by federal officials, he had been positioned on the public side of a fence since 01:59 local time on Sunday morning.
The individual in question was found in possession of two digital cameras, a black plastic bag containing food, and an SKS-style semi-automatic rifle, which boasts a range of nearly 440 yards, along with a scope designed to enhance its lens capabilities.
The last publicly scheduled campaign event for the Republican presidential candidate took place on Saturday evening across the country in Utah.
According to residents, Trump reportedly dedicates nearly every Sunday to the West Palm Beach golf club during periods when he is not actively campaigning.
On Monday, Secret Service director Ronald Rowe revealed that the former president was “not even really supposed to go there,” prompting agents to devise a security plan on short notice.
The thwarted scheme has raised urgent inquiries among Trump’s neighbors in Palm Beach.
Was the suspect aware of the former president’s scheduled golf outing, or was it merely a conjecture?
How was it possible for him to remain undetected for such an extended period, concealed in the bushes with a rifle?
A gunman fled the scene in a black Nissan, abandoning a backpack filled with stolen items and his weapon.
On Monday night, Trump revealed that a civilian woman managed to capture a photograph of his license plate and subsequently provided it to investigators.
After approximately 40 minutes, law enforcement successfully intercepted the suspect’s vehicle on Interstate 95, instructing him to exit the car.
Bodycam footage reveals a composed demeanor as officers instructed him to step aside before handcuffing him without any complications.
On Monday, 58-year-old Ryan Routh made an appearance in a bustling Palm Beach courtroom, dressed in a blue prison jumpsuit and engaging in conversation with his attorney while smiling.
A man faces charges for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, as well as one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
Routh, a resident of Hawaii with a prior criminal record, first attracted the attention of the FBI in 2019 due to his status as a felon in possession of a firearm. At that time, the bureau provided a notification to law enforcement officials in Honolulu.
The suspect’s motive for allegedly plotting to target Trump remains undisclosed. However, he previously expressed on social media that he supported the Republican candidate in 2016 before changing his stance.
On the outskirts of Trump’s golf course on Monday, vibrant orange cones, barricades, police vehicles, and officers secured every corner of the club.
The recent incident has sent shockwaves through West Palm Beach and its neighboring communities.
Shelby Stevens, a 52-year-old supporter of Donald Trump residing in West Palm Beach, expressed to the BBC, “No matter how much security you have and everything else if someone is willing to give their life to take someone else’s, it can happen.”
Cosme Blanco has resided just a few blocks from the course for the majority of his life. He noted that Trump visits the location as frequently as twice a week when he is not engaged in campaigning activities.
A 61-year-old supporter of Trump noted that the security presence surrounding the golf club is generally not excessive. However, the situation took a dramatic turn on Sunday, as Blanco rushed outside just five minutes after the sound of gunfire echoed through the area, witnessing helicopters hovering above the neighborhood.
“I had my concerns.” “As I approach my 62nd birthday, I reflect on the unprecedented changes I have witnessed in America,” remarked the Cuban immigrant.
Blanco stated that it would be relatively easy for a suspect to focus on Trump at his golf course.
The former president made his way in a motorcade, a journey that would have taken approximately 12 minutes to traverse from Mar-a-Lago across a bridge that offers views of the Lake Worth Lagoon.
Blanco remarked, “If they see the motorcade approaching, they likely understand he’s headed to play golf – it’s simply common sense.”
Anka Palitz, a resident of Palm Beach and a long-time acquaintance of Trump, expressed skepticism regarding the timing of Routh’s actions.
“He does not engage in a round of golf every Sunday,” she stated. “There appears to be a conspiracy at play.”
“How did he manage to go unnoticed?” she questioned.
Palitz, recalling her past skiing trips with Ivana Trump, expressed her belief that someone likely informed the suspect about the former president’s visit to the course that day.
Patricia Pelham, a native of the United Kingdom who has resided in Florida for three decades, expressed curiosity about the suspect’s ability to park his vehicle in proximity to facilitate a swift escape.
“Why is there a lack of security on the perimeter?” inquired the British citizen, who emphasized her lack of support for Trump.
Pelham reported that security protocols have been heightened at Mar-a-Lago, located in Palm Beach, following an incident in which a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
On Monday, law enforcement vehicles were stationed along the island’s roads at nearly every half mile as the 17-acre resort was cordoned off to the public.
Officials have indicated that the entire golf course would have been cordoned off if a sitting president of the United States had been present on the green.
Following accusations that White House rhetoric contributed to a recent alleged assassination attempt, Trump revealed on Monday night that he engaged in a “very nice call” with President Joe Biden regarding an increase in Secret Service protection.
On Monday, President Biden, representing the Democratic Party, urged Congress to allocate additional funds for the agency shortly, emphasizing that the Secret Service “needs more help.”
Michael Matranga, a former Secret Service agent who served under President Barack Obama, stated that Donald Trump has enjoyed a higher level of security compared to many other former presidents, who generally receive reduced protection after leaving office.
He noted that former presidents are not usually provided with counter-sniper teams in the same manner as Trump.
The Secret Service is under significant examination following the initial assassination attempt on Trump, leading to the resignation of agency head Kimberly Cheatle just days after the rally.
Officials from the agency have indicated that the Secret Service is facing a shortage of resources.
Despite the additional resources, Matranga noted that agents must navigate a challenging equilibrium between safeguarding Trump and permitting him to interact with constituents during his campaign activities, as well as partake in leisure activities such as golfing.
Matranga emphasized that they cannot simply “keep him in a bulletproof box.”
Trump appears resistant to being confined to any particular category.
In a fundraising email dispatched on Monday afternoon, he conveyed to his supporters, “My resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life!”
Stevens anticipates that Trump will uphold a “tough” demeanor as he seeks to engage voters in the lead-up to the general election in November.
Stevens expressed his belief that the individual in question would likely prefer to keep any fears about venturing outside hidden from the American public.
“I believe he will continue to have a significant presence, not only in this location but across various platforms.” It appears that he is unlikely to avoid that situation.
