Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered an investigation into an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club.
At a Glance
- Florida will conduct its own investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a Republican presidential nominee’s golf club in West Palm Beach.
- Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the public’s right to know about the would-be assassin and how they got within 500 yards of Trump.
- The FBI is also investigating the incident, which it describes as an “attempted assassination.”
- Trump was 300-500 yards away from the suspect when a Secret Service agent engaged with and took the suspect into custody.
- The incident follows a previous assassination attempt on Trump two months prior in Pennsylvania.
State Investigation Ordered by Governor DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered a state investigation following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was found with an AK-47-style rifle. Routh, who has a criminal record and alleged pro-Ukrainian ties, has raised concerns about Secret Service security measures. This scrutiny is magnified by a previous attempt on Trump’s life in July.
The FBI is also conducting its own investigation and described the incident as an attempted assassination. According to DeSantis, the people deserve transparency about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get so close to Trump. The suspect, who was located in bushes about 400 yards away, was spotted by a Secret Service agent who then engaged and apprehended him.
The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club.
The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 16, 2024
Details Emerge About the Incident
The incident occurred at Trump International Golf Course around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The gunman was seen by a Secret Service agent, who noticed the gun barrel through a fence line. The agent engaged the suspect, who fled the scene in a black Nissan SUV. Law enforcement later captured Routh near Palm City after a BOLO alert was issued for the vehicle.
“The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,” DeSantis wrote.
Items found at the scene included an AK-47-style rifle, scopes, backpacks containing ceramic tiles, and a GoPro camera. Law enforcement praised the Secret Service’s responses to the incident, with Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stating that they did a fantastic job.
Ongoing Security and Transparency Concerns
Questions are being raised about the security and communication breakdowns with local law enforcement following the recent assassination attempt and the incident in Pennsylvania two months prior. A bipartisan congressional task force investigating the prior attempt seeks a briefing on the recent incident. Trump reassured his supporters via email that he was safe and would continue his campaign unfazed.
“Florida will be “conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination” of former President Trump at the Republican presidential nominee’s golf club in West Palm Beach, state Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Sunday. “The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,”
DeSantis said in his announcement on X. The FBI is investigating what it says “appears to be an attempted assassination” of Trump after his campaign said gunshots were fired in his vicinity on Sunday. “Secret Service did exactly what they should have done, and their agent did a fantastic job,” he added.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz have expressed relief that Trump is safe and condemned all forms of violence. The investigation aims to provide clarity and ensure the safety of all high-profile political figures.
