Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old former construction worker, has been identified as the suspect in an alleged assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. According to the FBI, Routh was arrested after Secret Service agents opened fire on him near Trump’s Florida golf course on Sunday. Authorities recovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope and a GoPro camera from the scene.
Routh attempted to flee after agents opened fire, escaping in a black car. However, with the help of witnesses, authorities tracked down the vehicle and arrested him. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed, “We have somebody in custody right now that is a potential suspect,” during a press conference.
Who is Ryan Wesley Routh?
According to The New York Times, Routh is originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, and worked in construction. Despite having no formal military background, he had expressed a strong desire to engage in armed conflict, particularly in Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion. In a social media post, Routh declared his willingness to “fight and die” in Ukraine, advocating for civilian involvement in global conflicts.
His online activity further reveals his radicalized views. On the messaging platform Signal, Routh wrote, “Civilians must change this war and prevent future wars.” His WhatsApp bio read, “Each one of us must do our part daily in the smallest steps to help support human rights, freedom, and democracy.”
Routh’s involvement in violence isn’t new. In 2002, he was arrested after barricading himself inside a building with a fully automatic weapon in Greensboro. While the charges were serious, details of the case’s outcome remain unclear.
Donald Trump “Safe”
Following the incident, Trump’s campaign spokesman Steven Cheung confirmed that the former president was safe. Trump himself reassured supporters, stating, “Fear not! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!” in a fundraising message.
This incident comes weeks after another assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, where a sniper’s bullet grazed Trump’s ear before the suspect was shot dead by authorities.