Featured Image Credit: NICOLAS GARCIA/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Florida, Crime
Joe Yates
Topics: Donald Trump, Florida, Crime
The man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was playing a round of golf has been found guilty.
Ryan Routh, 59, was arrested after security spotted a rifle sticking out of bushes at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida, on September 15, 2024.
The terrifying incident came just weeks after Trump was left with a grazed ear when a bullet narrowly missed him during another assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Despite pleading not guilty to all five charges and choosing to represent himself in court, Routh was convicted on every count following a trial in Florida, according to NBC News.
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He now faces the possibility of life behind bars.
The Secret Service said that its agents, who were accompanying the 45th US president around the course, were making sure the holes were safe to play when they spotted Routh in some bushes near the property line.
When it was spotted, multiple agents began firing at the alleged gunman and are believed to have unloaded at least four rounds.
The suspect then dropped his AK-47 style rifle, along with two backpacks, a GoPro and fled in a black Nissan car, law enforcement said.
Multiple agents engaged the gunman and fired at least four rounds at him.
Following the incident, Trump issued a welfare update to his supporters through his campaign, which released the following statement: "There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!
"Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again."
Of course, Trump went on to win the US presidential election on November 5... and the rest is history.