The FBI has disclosed that Ryan Wesley Routh, the accused gunman in the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, was already known to them and had been on their radar since 2019.
Law enforcement officials in Palm Beach, Florida, shared new details about the 58-year-old suspect, revealing that he never fired his weapon or had a direct line of sight to the former president before fleeing.
At a press conference, officials confirmed that Routh was well-known to law enforcement, with a tip about him possessing a firearm coming in back in 2019. However, this information was never verified by the tipster.
On the day of the incident, Routh left behind a loaded AK-47-style rifle, two bags, a digital video camera, and ceramic bulletproof body armor in the brush at Trump’s golf club.
Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri of the Miami FBI Field Office stated that there is no evidence Routh was working with anyone else. Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe added that Routh did not have a clear line of sight to Trump and did not fire any shots.
Routh was apprehended 50 miles from the club after a witness, who saw him fleeing in a stolen black Nissan SUV, provided the license plate and identified him to authorities.
The FBI has interviewed seven witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation, treating the incident as a second assassination attempt against Trump within two months. Following an earlier shooting incident at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, the Secret Service has significantly revised its security protocols.
Rowe, who assumed the role of Acting Director after Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation post-Butler attack, emphasized the need to shift from a reactive to a readiness model for security. He noted the potential for additional responsibilities due to various geopolitical or domestic issues.
In court on Monday, Routh faced charges of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He appeared in a black prison uniform with shackled hands and feet. The origin of the rifle remains unclear, as it is not available for purchase in Florida, and its serial number has been destroyed.
Routh’s criminal history in North Carolina includes weapon law violations and terrorist threats from 2002, as well as a standoff with law enforcement.
