Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old man, was charged with federal gun crimes following an alleged attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Routh, who was apprehended after the incident, appeared in court where he was accused of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and having a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The incident unfolded when Secret Service agents spotted Routh with an AK-47-style rifle near where Trump was playing golf.
After a brief confrontation where shots were fired, Routh fled but was later stopped on a highway and taken into custody. Items left behind included the rifle, two backpacks, a scope, and a camera.
If convicted, Routh faces up to 15 years in prison for the first charge and an additional five years for the second.
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A bond hearing is set for next week, with a probable cause hearing or arraignment scheduled for September 30, depending on further legal proceedings.
This event marks the second attempt on Trump’s life within a few months, highlighting ongoing security concerns surrounding the former president. The FBI is actively investigating the case, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat against Trump.
It is unclear if Routh fired his weapon during the incident.
“We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents, but for sure our agents were able to engage with the suspect,” Rafael Barros from the Secret Service Miami Field Office said.
Routh, who owns a small Hawaii construction company, had criticized Trump on social media.
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He also regularly posted about the war in Ukraine and had a website where he raised money and recruited volunteers to go to Kyiv to fight against the Russian invasion.
In a post on X he wrote, “I am going to fight and die for Ukraine.”
Campaign finance records show Routh made 19 small political donations totaling $140 since 2019 using his Hawaii address to ActBlue, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates.
Records show that while living in North Carolina, Routh had multiple run-ins with police. He was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, according to online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records.
