By Ryan Afable
On September 15th, 2024, the former President and current presidential candidate Donald J. Trump went on a golf outing, which he does oftenly. It appeared to be yet another typical day for the former President, however it could have been disastrous. There was an armed gunman hiding in the nearby bushes.
What Happened:
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, waited outside of Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach with his rifle and a lot of food. His phone showed that he sat in the bushes for 12 hours, waiting to get the perfect shot. Before he could shoot, the secret service agents saw his gun pointing out of the bush, and the agents instantly opened fire. Trump got rushed off to a safe house inside the golf course. The agents put a warrant out on Routh. A pedestrian then got a partial plate, leading to Routh’s arrest.
The Suspect:
Ryan Wesly Routh is a 58-year-old male who owns a small construction business in Hawaii. Routh was reportedly a former Trump supporter; however, he started to grow angry about Trump’s stated policies and expectations concerning the Russian–Ukrainian War. He made a book called Ukraine’s Unwinnable War: The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen—Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea and the End of Humanity. He criticized Trump, calling him a “buffoon” and a “fool.” He also talked about the first assassination attempt, saying that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden should contact those wounded in the shooting, since Trump won’t do anything. In 2022, he visited Ukraine to show his support. Routh has a history of being charged with crimes several times before.
The Aftermath:
Routh was arrested and has been convicted for illegally owning a firearm without the serial numbers. There has been a lot of pressure on the Secret Service since Trump started blaming Democrats for the incident, and he is also in need of more security when he goes golfing. Incidentally, the House unanimously approved a bill on Friday, September 20, 2024 to increase Secret Service protection for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
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