Sep 16, 2024 - 19:56
By npr.org

Here's everything we know about the apparent assassination attempt on Trump

Former President Donald Trump was targeted in what “appears to be an attempted assassination” on Sunday afternoon, the FBI says. A suspect — Ryan Wesley Routh — is in custody after being identified as a man seen with a rifle at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The incident began around 1:30 p.m. ET on the Trump International golf course where the former president was playing; it ended miles away after Routh’s vehicle was spotted on Interstate 95. It occurred two months after Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.

Here’s a rundown of the facts that are known so far:

The suspect now faces federal gun charges

Routh appeared in a federal courtroom in West Palm Beach on Monday, where he was charged with two gun-related offenses: possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Routh, who was represented by a federal public defender, told federal judge Ryon McCabe that he has no savings to pay for his defense. Wearing a blue prison jumpsuit and shackles, he also said he has a 25-year-old son.

Agreeing with prosecutors’ request, the judge ordered Routh to remain in custody until a formal arraignment on Sept. 30.

Routh's cellphone provider offered data suggesting that he had been in the vicinity of the golf course encounter for nearly 12 hours, from 1:59 a.m. to 1:31 p.m., according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court on Monday.

After Routh was apprehended, local prosecutors filed warrants and a pretrial detention motion to ensure he would remain in custody ahead of likely federal charges, Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, said on Sunday.