A federal judge in Florida has ordered that Ryan W. Routh, the suspect in the attempted assassination of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, be detained without bail pending trial. Routh was apprehended after a traffic stop near Palm City, Florida on September 15, 2024, following a month of allegedly stalking Trump in Florida.
During a U.S. District Court hearing in West Palm Beach, Florida, prosecutors stated that Routh, aged 58, was apprehended less than an hour after a Secret Service agent fired at him while he allegedly lay in wait with a rifle outside Trump’s golf course. They revealed plans to seek a grand jury indictment on charges related to the attempted assassination but, for now, Routh faces two weapon-related charges.
Prosecutors presented a letter Routh had previously handed to another individual, indicating his intention to assassinate Trump. The only established ties Routh had to the Southern District of Florida were in relation to his alleged assassination plot, they argued. His cellphone data indicated travel from Greensboro, North Carolina to West Palm Beach, Florida on August 14, 2024, with recurring proximity to Trump’s golf course and residence.
Upon his arrest, Routh possessed a handwritten list of dates and venues related to Trump’s appearances, along with a firearm by a convicted felon and a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Trump, who survived a previous assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, criticized the Department of Justice for allegedly mishandling and downplaying the recent attempt on his life.
The court filing detailed that on September 15, 2024, a Secret Service agent spotted Routh aiming a rifle at him from a hiding spot near the golf course. The agent fired at Routh, who then fled the scene before being captured about 45 minutes later in a Nissan Xterra, which had an unregistered license plate. Authorities recovered an SKS semiautomatic rifle, additional license plates, six cellphones, and several other items, including ballistic plates and a digital camera.
Furthermore, Routh’s belongings included gloves, a driver’s license, passport, and Google searches related to fleeing to Mexico, as well as a handwritten list tracking Trump’s movements. An investigation into a book authored by Routh in February 2023 revealed his critical views on geopolitical issues. Additionally, items found at a witness’s residence, which Routh had dropped off, contained ammunition, tools, and letters expressing his frustrations and intentions.
Routh’s prior felony convictions, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction and stolen goods, legally barred him from possessing a firearm.
