Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man with a history of criminal convictions, was taken into custody after shots were fired at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, in what is being described as a second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. In 2002, Routh was convicted of possessing a machine gun, a weapon of mass destruction. He has a long history of criminal and civil court cases, including convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of stolen property, and hit-and-run. Routh resided in North Carolina and Hawaii, where he was involved in a roofing company and claimed to support Ukraine’s war against Russia. He expressed frustration with Ukraine’s reluctance to admit foreign fighters and criticized U.S. leadership for not providing enough support to the country.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Routh, who has made small contributions to the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, attempted to assassinate Trump at the golf club. Palm Beach County State’s Attorney Dave Aronberg stated that the federal government would take over the prosecution in the case, with potential charges of attempted assassination. Routh was allegedly lying in wait for Trump before being spotted by Secret Service agents, and he aimed at an agent who then fired at him. Details of the incident are still unclear, but Routh was said to be compliant and quiet after being taken into custody on Interstate 95. The motive behind Routh’s actions and any potential connection to Trump’s stance on Ukraine remain unknown.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com