Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, September 15, 2024 86° Today's Paper


Top News

Reports: Suspect with Hawaii ties arrested after attempted assassination of Trump

REUTERS/GIORGIO VIERA
                                Custodian patrols around Mar-A-Lago, after Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump returned from Trump International Golf Club, which was the site of a shooting, to his residence at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.
1/5
Swipe or click to see more

REUTERS/GIORGIO VIERA

Custodian patrols around Mar-A-Lago, after Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump returned from Trump International Golf Club, which was the site of a shooting, to his residence at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE via REUTERS
                                Police vehicles stop an SUV following reports of shots fired near the Palm City, Florida, golf course where Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump,was playing this afternoon.
2/5
Swipe or click to see more

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE via REUTERS

Police vehicles stop an SUV following reports of shots fired near the Palm City, Florida, golf course where Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump,was playing this afternoon.

MARCO BELLO / REUTERS
                                A law enforcement officer walks after reports of shots fired outside Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump’s Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, today.
3/5
Swipe or click to see more

MARCO BELLO / REUTERS

A law enforcement officer walks after reports of shots fired outside Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump’s Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, today.

MARCO BELLO / REUTERS
                                Law enforcement officers stand after reports of shots fired outside the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, today.
4/5
Swipe or click to see more

MARCO BELLO / REUTERS

Law enforcement officers stand after reports of shots fired outside the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, today.

PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / REUTERS
                                Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump reacts at a rally in Las Vegas on Friday.
5/5
Swipe or click to see more

PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / REUTERS

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump reacts at a rally in Las Vegas on Friday.

REUTERS/GIORGIO VIERA
                                Custodian patrols around Mar-A-Lago, after Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump returned from Trump International Golf Club, which was the site of a shooting, to his residence at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.
MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE via REUTERS
                                Police vehicles stop an SUV following reports of shots fired near the Palm City, Florida, golf course where Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump,was playing this afternoon.
MARCO BELLO / REUTERS
                                A law enforcement officer walks after reports of shots fired outside Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump’s Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, today.
MARCO BELLO / REUTERS
                                Law enforcement officers stand after reports of shots fired outside the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, today.
PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / REUTERS
                                Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump reacts at a rally in Las Vegas on Friday.

Related Photo Gallery

FBI investigates attempted assassination of Trump in Florida

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was safe after what the FBI said appeared to be an assassination attempt today while he was golfing on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Law enforcement officials said U.S. Secret Service agents spotted and fired on a gunman in some bushes near the property line with an AK-47-style assault rifle.

The New York Times, Fox News Channel and multiple other news outlets identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, citing law unnamed enforcement officials. Reuters was not able to verify the reports.

The New York Post reported that he moved to Hawaii sometime around 2018.

After spotting the rifle barrel about 400 to 500 yards away from Trump as they cleared holes of potential threats ahead of his play, the agents engaged the gunman and fired at least four rounds of ammunition around 1:30 p.m., Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told a news conference.

The gunman then dropped his rifle, two backpacks and other items and fled in a black Nissan car. A witness, the sheriff said, saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate.

“The Secret Service did exactly what should have been done,” Bradshaw added.

After the suspect fled the scene, law enforcement officials said they sent out an alert to statewide agencies with the information on his vehicle, which led to sheriff’s deputies in neighboring Martin County apprehending the suspect on I-95.

“We have somebody in custody right now,” said Bradshaw, who did not identify the suspect or give details on a possible motive.

Trump sent an email to his fundraising list saying 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!” according to an email seen by Reuters.

Trump was injured in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13, raising questions about protection for candidates just months ahead of what looks likely to be highly contested Nov. 5 election in which he will face off against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed about the incident and were relieved to know that he is safe.

“Violence has no place in America,” Harris said in an X social media post.

Trump’s running mate in the presidential election, U.S. Senator JD Vance, said he spoke to Trump after the shooting and that the former president was in good spirits.

The first shooting of a U.S. president or major party presidential candidate in more than four decades was a glaring security lapse that forced Kimberly Cheatle to resign as Secret Service director under bipartisan congressional pressure.

Trump was grazed in the right ear and one rallygoer was killed in the gunfire. The gunman, identified as a 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.

The U.S. Secret Service’s new acting director said in August that he was “ashamed” of a security lapse that led to the assassination attempt.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.