Investigation underway for assassination attempt on President Donald Trump

KTLA 5

15 Sept 202403:15

Summary

TLDRA 58-year-old man, Ryan Route, was arrested after an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course. Route, a vocal critic of Trump and supporter of Ukraine, was found with an AK-47 style rifle and a recording device. The Secret Service intervened, and Trump was unharmed. The suspect was later taken into custody after a car chase. The motive remains unclear, and a thorough investigation is underway.

Takeaways

🔍 A suspect, Ryan Route, attempted an assassination on former President Donald Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
🔎 Route was found hiding in bushes with an AK-47 style rifle and was arrested minutes after fleeing the scene.
🏞️ The incident occurred near Trump's International Golf Course close to Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort.
🎯 Trump was not injured during the incident, which took place around 02:00 PM local time.
👮‍♂️ The Secret Service agent engaged the suspect, who was approximately 400 yards from Trump at the time.
🔒 Route, a 58-year-old from Hawaii, is now in custody, and a thorough investigation is underway.
📱 Route was active on social media, showing criticism towards Trump and support for Ukraine, even fundraising for foreign fighters.
💻 Items recovered from the scene included backpacks, a recording device, and a scoped rifle.
📧 President Trump reassured his supporters via email that he was safe and would not be deterred by the incident.
🏅 Statements were issued by various political figures, including President Biden, condemning political violence and commending the Secret Service.

Q & A

What was the suspect's alleged plan according to the authorities?
-The suspect, identified as Ryan Route, was allegedly planning an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Where was the incident supposed to take place?
-The incident was planned to take place at Trump's international golf course near Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Florida.
What type of weapon was reportedly found at the scene?
-An AK-47 style rifle with a scope was found at the scene where the suspect was hiding.
How was the suspect apprehended?
-The suspect fled the scene but was arrested minutes later after being pulled over on a Florida highway.
What other items were recovered at the scene?
-In addition to the rifle, authorities recovered two backpacks, one of which contained ceramic body armor, and a recording device.
What was the distance between the gunman and Trump during the incident?
-The gunman was approximately 400 yards away from Mr. Trump during the incident.
How did the Secret Service agent spot the suspect?
-A Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of the rifle sticking out of the fence and immediately engaged the individual.
What was the suspect's stance on social media regarding Trump and Ukraine?
-The suspect, Route, was critical of Trump on social media while expressing support for Ukraine and raising funds for foreign fighters.
What was the response of President Trump after the incident?
-President Trump emailed his supporters stating that he was safe and well, and that nothing would slow him down or make him surrender.
How did other political figures respond to the incident?
-Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden condemned political violence, while Trump's running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, expressed relief that Trump was safe.
What was the condition of former President Trump after the incident?
-Former President Trump was not injured during the incident and was reported to be safe and back at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump

A suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Route, attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Route hid in bushes with an AK-47 style rifle near the course but was arrested minutes after fleeing the scene. The motive remains unclear, though Route was known to be critical of Trump on social media and supportive of Ukraine. Trump was not injured in the incident, and the Secret Service agent engaged the suspect, who was later taken into custody. The FBI confirmed that Trump was the intended target. Following the incident, Trump reassured his supporters of his safety and resolve, while political figures from both parties condemned the act of political violence.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Assassination Attempt

An assassination attempt refers to a planned but unsuccessful effort to murder a high-profile individual, often a political figure. In the context of the video, it is central to the narrative as it describes an incident where former President Donald Trump was the intended target at his Florida golf course. The script mentions that the FBI is investigating the incident as the second such attempt, highlighting the severity and the ongoing threat to the individual's safety.

💡Secret Service

The Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security with the primary mission of protecting the President of the United States, Vice President, and other high-ranking officials. In the script, the Secret Service is credited with engaging the suspect and ensuring the safety of former President Trump, showcasing their critical role in preventing the assassination attempt.

💡Suspect

A suspect is a person who is thought to have committed a crime or is being investigated for criminal activity. In the video's context, the suspect is identified as 58-year-old Ryan Route, who was allegedly involved in the assassination attempt on Trump. The term is used to describe the individual who was arrested and is now in custody, central to understanding the unfolding investigation.

💡AK-47 Style Rifle

An AK-47 style rifle refers to a family of firearms that are modeled after the original AK-47, known for their reliability and ease of use. In the script, the suspect is said to have had an AK-47 style rifle with a scope, indicating the potential lethality of the weapon and the seriousness of the threat posed to Trump.

💡Mar-a-Lago

Mar-a-Lago is a resort and national historic landmark in Palm Beach, Florida, owned by former President Donald Trump. It is mentioned in the script as the location where Trump was staying and playing golf when the assassination attempt took place, making it a significant geographical reference point in the narrative.

💡Social Media

Social media refers to digital platforms and applications that enable users to create and share content or engage in social networking. The script mentions that the suspect, Ryan Route, has been active on social media, expressing support for Ukraine and criticism of Trump, providing a potential insight into his motives and background.

💡Ceramic Body Armor

Ceramic body armor is a type of personal protective gear that incorporates ceramic plates to provide enhanced protection against bullets and shrapnel. The script notes that the suspect had ceramic body armor, suggesting preparation for a confrontation and a more serious threat to security.

💡West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach is a city in Florida where the incident took place. It is mentioned in the script as the location of Trump's golf course, providing context for the setting of the assassination attempt and the subsequent investigation.

💡Republican Presidential Nominee

The Republican Presidential Nominee refers to the candidate chosen by the Republican Party to run for the office of the President of the United States in an election. The script mentions that this incident occurred just nine weeks after another attempt on Trump's life, who is the Republican nominee, emphasizing the political context and the ongoing threats to his safety.

💡Political Violence

Political violence refers to the use of force or the threat of force in politics, often aimed at achieving political goals or influencing political processes. The script includes a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris condemning political violence, highlighting the broader implications of such acts and the need for societal condemnation.

💡President Biden

President Biden is the current President of the United States. In the script, he is mentioned as having commended the work done by the Secret Service in response to the assassination attempt, showing the involvement and support from the current administration for the security measures taken to protect Trump.

Highlights

A suspect attempted to assassinate former President Trump at his international golf course near Mar-a-Lago.

The suspect hid in the bushes with a rifle, lying in wait for Trump.

The suspect fled the scene but was arrested minutes later.

The FBI confirmed that Trump was the intended target of an assassination attempt.

The suspect, Ryan Route, is from Hawaii and was passionate about Ukraine.

Route's vehicle was registered to his daughter.

Items recovered at the scene included backpacks and a recording device.

The suspect had an AK-47 style rifle with a scope.

Trump was not injured during the incident that took place just before 2:00 PM local time.

The gunman was about 400 yards from Trump when the Secret Service agent fired at him.

The suspect was seen pointing an AK-style rifle into the club where Trump was playing golf.

The suspect dropped the rifle before getting into an SUV where he was later taken into custody.

Route has been active on social media, critical of Trump while expressing support for Ukraine.

President Trump emailed his supporters stating he is safe and well, and nothing will slow him down.

The incident occurred just 9 weeks after another attempt on Trump's life at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Vice President Kamala Harris condemned political violence in response to the incident.

Senator JD Vance expressed relief that President Trump is safe and in good spirits.

President Biden commended the work done by the Secret Service in response to the assassination attempt.

Trump is back at his Mar-a-Lago resort and thanked the Secret Service via social media.

The motive for the assassination attempt remains unclear.