Trump's would-be assassin arrested on Florida highway, AK-47 and GoPro found

In a startling incident on September 15, 2024, former President Donald Trump was rushed to safety following an assassination attempt at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Authorities released the first photos showing the alleged gunman's equipment, including an AK-47 rifle propped against a fence and a black backpack with a GoPro attached, ready to record the event.

The suspect, identified by law enforcement as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii, was captured shortly after the incident on I-95.

His vehicle was seen blocked by police cars, including a police truck, in dramatic images of his arrest.

The scene unfolded one hole ahead of where Trump was playing, with Secret Service agents swiftly responding to the threat. Although shots were fired by the agents, Routh was not hit and was apprehended following a brief pursuit.

Reflecting on the incident, Trump issued a statement to his supporters: “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!”

He continued, asserting his resilience, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” This attempt follows a near miss two months prior when Trump was grazed by a bullet at a rally in Butler, PA., further highlighting ongoing security challenges.

Routh, a North Carolina native who resides in Honolulu where he works as a shed builder, has a history of political activism, with documented support for progressive causes and multiple donations to Democratic candidates since 2019.

His apprehension has sparked a broader discussion about the safety of public figures and the political tensions in America.

Trump, calling for unity, emphasized reconciliation at the Republican National Convention, stating, "The discord and division in our society must be healed. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart."