By Luis De Jesus
Sep 15, 2024, 7:13 PM EDT
The FBI has launched an investigation into what appears to be a new assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, which occurred this Sunday at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
A man armed with an AK-47 rifle and equipped with a telescopic sight was stopped by Secret Service agents before he could fire a shot, in an incident that has raised alarm among federal authorities, Efe reports.
The incident occurred around 1:30 pm, when the former president was playing golf. According to preliminary information, security agents detected an individual hiding in bushes about 300-500 meters from the course, carrying the high-caliber weapon.
When confronted, he tried to flee in a black van, but was arrested minutes later thanks to the quick intervention of the officers and the collaboration of a witness who photographed the vehicle’s license plate. In addition to the weapon, two backpacks and a GoPro camera were found at the scene.
Despite the incident, Donald Trump was not injured and confirmed in a statement that he was safe. “There were shots fired near me, but I am fine. Nothing will stop me,” said the former president, who reaffirmed his intention to continue his campaign for the 2024 elections.
What is the identity of the suspect?
The FBI is classifying the incident as a possible “attempted murder” and is working with other agencies to clarify the details.
Although the authorities have not officially revealed the identity of the detainee, media such as Fox News and the New York Post It is reported that this is Ryan Wesley Routh, but this information has not yet been confirmed by official sources.
The White House, for its part, indicated that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been informed of what had happened. They expressed relief that former President Trump was out of danger.
Harris, who will face Trump in the upcoming elections, stressed on social media that “violence has no place in the United States.”
This attempted attack follows another recent incident on July 13, when Trump was slightly injured during a rally in Pennsylvania, prompting the resignation of the then director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, and leading to a review of the former president’s security protocols.
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