Accused Trump Gunman Hid for 12 Hours in Sniper's Nest Before Being Discovered

Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on September 15, 2024 at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old from Hawaii, managed to set up a sniper’s nest within 300 to 500 yards of Trump, who was putting on the fifth hole.

Routh, who has a history of supporting progressive causes and has made multiple donations to Democratic candidates since 2019, was able to remain undetected for nearly 12 hours.

His presence was first recorded by his cellphone pinging at the edge of the golf course at 1:59 a.m. Sunday. It wasn't until approximately 1:30 p.m. that a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of Routh's SKS-style rifle protruding through a chain-link fence.

The suspect had equipped himself with an AK-47 and a GoPro camera, presumably to record the planned shooting. Despite being a felon, Routh possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number, making its origins difficult to trace. This weapon, along with a digital camera and two bags, was found in his sniper’s nest.

Routh's criminal background includes a 2002 conviction for possessing a weapon of mass death and destruction and a 2010 conviction for multiple counts of possession of stolen goods. The FBI had previously investigated him in 2019 based on a tip but closed the case after failing to gather further information.

As Routh attempted to execute his plan, a Secret Service agent opened fire, causing him to flee. He was later apprehended on I-95, driving a Nissan SUV with stolen license plates.

During his initial court appearance on September 16, 2024, Routh faced charges for two federal gun crimes: possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which together could result in up to 20 years in prison.

Trump, who had survived a previous assassination attempt in July, reassured his supporters shortly after the incident, stating that he was "SAFE AND WELL." The episode has raised massive concerns about the security measures in place for former presidents, especially given the apparent exploitation of known security gaps at Trump's golf course.