‘I am safe and well’: Donald Trump after gunshots in his vicinity in apparent second assassination bid

Law enforcement officers work after reports of shots fired at Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump’s Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. (Reuters)

Reports have identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii. However, the FBI declined to comment.

This apparent attempt on Trump’s life, foiled by the FBI, comes just two months after he was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, sustaining a minor injury to his right ear.

What happened at the Trump International Golf Club?

According to a CNN report, the Republican presidential candidate was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach when the incident occurred.

The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2 p.m. The former president is safe. @pbso will have more details soon. pic.twitter.com/yWNvvKD3IC

— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) September 15, 2024

In a post on X, US Secret Service Communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said, “The Secret Service, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a protective incident involving former President Donald Trump that occurred shortly before 2 pm. The former president is safe.”

According to a post on X, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., cited local law enforcement as saying an AK-47 automatic weapon had been discovered in bushes and a suspect has been apprehended.

‘Secret Service did exactly what should have been done’

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Secret Service agents saw a rifle barrel poking out from bushes about 400 to 500 yards (365 to 460 meters) away from Trump as they cleared holes of potential threats ahead of his play.

The agents engaged the gunman, firing at least four rounds of ammunition around 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT).

The gunman then dropped his rifle, and left behind two backpacks and other items, and fled in a black Nissan car. The sheriff said a witness saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate before he escaped.

“The Secret Service did exactly what should have been done,” Bradshaw was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters, declining to provide a possible motive.

After the suspect fled the scene, police sent out an alert to statewide agencies with the information on his vehicle, which led to sheriff’s deputies in neighboring Martin County apprehending the suspect on I-95 about 40 miles (65km) from the golf course.

Again folks!

SHOTS FIRED at Trump Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

An AK-47 was discovered in the bushes, per local law enforcement. The Trump campaign has released a statement confirming former President Trump is safe.

A suspect has reportedly been apprehended. pic.twitter.com/FwRfrO3v6y

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 15, 2024

As per reports, the golf club was immediately locked down.

President Biden, Kamala Harris react

Trump, in an email to supporters accessed by Reuters, said there were “gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”

Following the incident, the White House said both President Joe Biden, and Democratic Party nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed about the situation. They were relieved to know that he was safe, as per the official statement.

Biden also said he had directed his team to ensure the Secret Service has the resources it needs to ensure Trump’s safety, the statement added.

Harris, in a post on X, said: “Violence has no place in America.”

Meanwhile, Republican Vice President nominee J D Vance, said he spoke to Trump after the shooting and that the former president was in good spirits.

The first assassination bid

Earlier on July 13, the previous assassination attempt on Trump during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania led to the death of an attendee.

Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks had fired multiple shots at Trump at the rally in Butler and one of the bullet hit past former President’s ear.

That was the first shooting of a US president or major party presidential candidate in more than four decades. The alleged security lapse forced Kimberly Cheatle to resign as Secret Service director.

Trump had posted on social media shortly after the attack, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. Much bleeding took place.”

— with inputs from agencies