- Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, of Hawaii, was convicted by a federal jury for attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump, then a major presidential candidate, in a planned sniper attack at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was charged with attempted assassination, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
- On September 15, 2024, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano spotted Routh aiming an AK-style rifle at him from a sniper’s hide near the golf course, prompting Fercano to open fire; Routh fled, leaving behind a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope, additional ammunition, steel armor plates, and a camera aimed at the sixth hole green.
- Authorities found Routh’s car containing multiple mobile phones, a list of flights out of the country for that day, and directions to Miami International Airport. Cell records showed Routh’s phone accessed towers near Trump International and Mar-a-Lago from August 18 to September 15, 2024. A witness provided a box Routh left in April containing a handwritten letter confessing to the assassination attempt. Read More