FBI Arrests Man for Targeting Former President Trump with a Rifle

Ryan Routh

The FBI arrested a gunman who positioned himself among trees along the perimeter of former President Donald Trump's Palm Beach, Florida, golf course, where Trump was golfing. The rifle-bearer did not have a clear sight line to Trump from his vantage point. A Secret Service agent on site spotted the weapon peeking through the trees, and fired in its direction. The hidden man dropped his rifle and ran. No one was injured.

It was the second assassination attempt on the former president since July 15.

FBI agents arrested Ryan Routh, 58, of Hawaii. Law enforcement officers found an AK Stayer rifle he left behind.

The alleged gunman, who had the rifle and GoPro camera allegedly set up, apparently to record the planned shooting, was able to get to between 300 and 500 yards away from the 45th president. 

The FBI is leading the investigation and is working to determine any motive, authorities said. He was charged with two gun-related crimes.

In July, Thomas Crooks was identified as the gunman who shot Former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Crooks, 20, was a one-time registered Republican. He was employed as a nursing home food service aide with no criminal record and was reported to be a good student who was shy in school. He lived with his parents. 

Authorities said bullets fired from Crooks' AR-15 style rifle about 150 yards away grazed Trump's right ear, killed a rally attendee as he dove to protect his family, and critically wounded two others. Secret Service agents killed Crooks moments later.