Former president Donald Trump was the target of "what appears to be an attempted assassination" at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, according to the FBI.
The incident comes just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt on his life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
U.S. Secret Service agents noticed the muzzle of an AK47 rifle poking through the shrubbery that lines the Trump International Gold Club. An agent then fired at the gunman, and the suspect dropped the riffle. The suspect, identified as Ryan Routh, fled off in an SUV before being taken into custody in a neighboring county, County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.
'Fortunately, we were able to locate a witness who told us that he saw the guy run out of the bushes, and then we were able to get his license plate and put out a vehicle tag," Bradshaw said,
The officials who identified the suspect spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
The former president said he was safe and well.
Politics
Michael Leininger, a law enforcement analyst, said security should have been improved.
"It's a very, very difficult perimeter to secure, but based on the prior assassination attempt, in my opinion, they should have secured the exterior perimeter as well," Leininger said. "I do believe the president was in imminent danger. The suspect definitely had a tactical plan, and he had a GoPro."
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According to court records, Routh, 58, has more than 100 criminal county filed against him in North Carolina.
In addition to the AK-style rifle, Secret Service agents found a scope, a backpack with ceramic tiles, and a GoPro camera.
Sources told NBC News that the incident will not affect Trump's campaign schedule this week.
Trump took to social media, thanking local and national law enforcement for keeping him safe.
"I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes - It was certainly an interesting day," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE."
Following the incident, Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris posted on social media and said, "Violence has no place in America."
"I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more to violence," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
