US media organisations have identified the suspect in the attempted assassination of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old from Hawaii. Routh was taken into custody after a witness provided a photo of his vehicle and license plate to law enforcement.
On Sunday, Routh allegedly tried to attack Trump at his golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. The Secret Service agents, who were securing the area for Trump, discovered a gun barrel hidden in the bushes near the property line. Several agents confronted Routh, who then dropped his AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, a GoPro camera, and other items before fleeing in a black Nissan.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that the witness’s photo helped deputies from Martin County apprehend Routh on Interstate 95 shortly after the incident.
Routh's online profiles on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn indicate his strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He had previously directed a message to Elon Musk, expressing a desire to purchase a rocket for a specific mission against Russian interests. Additionally, Routh had been featured in a 2023 New York Times article discussing Americans volunteering to aid Ukraine.
In his social media posts, Routh supported Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and criticized President Joe Biden, using terms that implied his dissatisfaction with the current administration.
Routh’s family has responded to the situation with concern. His son, Adam, expressed disbelief about the allegations and mentioned he was unaware of the events in Florida. Another son, Oran, described his father as a “loving and caring father” and hoped that the situation was being exaggerated.
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