Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested after fleeing an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course in Florida.
Routh, a registered Democrat voter, armed with what was described as an “AK-47-style assault rifle,” was found hiding in bushes near the course perimeter.
Secret Service agents spotted him roughly 300-500 yards from Trump, who was playing a round of golf.
Routh fled the scene but was later apprehended after a witness provided key information about his vehicle.
Martin County Sherriff William D. Snyder said Routh ‘was not displaying a lot of emotions’ when police arrested him.
Snyder added that the suspected shooter was ‘relatively calm’ and ‘never asked’ why he was being detained.
During the arrest, Routh remained calm, and authorities found additional weapons and gear in his possession, including backpacks and a GoPro camera.
Routh, who had a history of criminal activity, including a standoff with police in 2002, had no formal military background but had engaged in controversial activities related to international conflicts.
He had told The New York Times in 2023 that he had travelled to Ukraine and wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers to fight there, a fact apparently confirmed by postings on Facebook.
