The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) mentioned Donald Trump was the goal of “What seems to be an tried homicide” at his golf membership in West Palm Seashore, Florida, on Sunday, simply 9 weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived one other assassination try. The previous president mentioned he was alive and effectively.
Palm Seashore County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw mentioned U.S. Secret Service brokers shot a person who was aiming an AK-style rifle by means of a scope whereas Trump was on the golf course. Bradshaw mentioned the gunman additionally had two backpacks hanging from a fence and a GoPro digital camera, and was about 400 to 500 yards from Trump and hiding in bushes as the previous president performed golf at a close-by gap. The individual dropped the gun and fled in a pickup truck, and was later arrested in a neighboring county.
The incident was the most recent jarring second in a marketing campaign yr marked by unprecedented turmoil. It got here roughly two months after Trump was shot throughout an assassination try at a rally in Pennsylvania, with a bullet grazing his ear. Only a week later, President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
In an electronic mail to his supporters, Trump mentioned: “There was gunshots in my neighborhood.However earlier than the rumors begin to get out of hand, I wished you to listen to this primary: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
“Nothing will cease me. I’ll by no means quit!” she mentioned.
The golf course was partially closed to Trump whereas he was enjoying, and brokers have been a number of holes forward of him once they observed the individual with the firearm, Bradshaw mentioned. There are a number of areas across the perimeter of the property the place golfers are seen from the fence line. Secret Service brokers and officers in golf carts and on all-terrain automobiles usually safe the realm a number of holes forward and behind Trump when he’s {golfing}. Brokers additionally typically convey an armored automobile to the course to rapidly shelter Trump ought to a risk come up.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend after a West Coast tour that included a Friday night time rally in Las Vegas and a fundraiser in Utah. His marketing campaign had not supplied phrase of Trump’s plans for Sunday. He typically spends the morning {golfing}, earlier than lunching on the membership, one in all three he owns within the state.
For the reason that assassination try in July, he has beefed up his safety. When he has been at Trump Tower in New York, a row of dump vehicles have been parked on a wall outdoors the constructing. And at outside rallies, he now speaks from behind a bulletproof glass enclosure.
Trump was returned Sunday to his non-public Mar-a-Lago membership in close by Palm Seashore, in accordance with an individual conversant in the matter.
The White Home mentioned President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had been briefed and could be stored knowledgeable in regards to the investigation. The White Home added that they have been “relieved” to listen to that Trump is protected.
Harris, in an announcement, mentioned she was “glad” Trump was protected and added that “violence has no place in America.”
In a publish on X, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one in all Trump’s prime allies in Congress, mentioned he had spoken to Trump after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and “one of many strongest individuals I’ve ever met.”
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder mentioned the suspect was taken into custody inside minutes after the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Workplace issued a “very pressing BOLO” (or “be looking out”) alert detailing the particular automobile being sought, the license plate quantity and an outline of the occupant.
Snyder mentioned his officers “instantly flooded” northbound I-95, deploying at each exit between the Palm Seashore County line to the south and the St. Lucie County line to the north.
“One in every of my freeway patrol items noticed the automobile, matched the license plate and we acquired a maintain of the automobile,” Snyder mentioned. “We approached the automotive, safely stopped it and detained the motive force.”
Snyder advised WPTV that the suspect “was not armed after we pulled him out of the automotive.”
The person had a peaceful, monotone demeanor and confirmed little emotion when police stopped him, Snyder mentioned, including that the suspect didn’t query why he was stopped.
“He by no means questioned what it was all about. Clearly, legislation enforcement officers with lengthy rifles, blue lights, a variety of issues occurring. He by no means questioned it,” Snyder mentioned.
Lawyer Basic Merrick Garland has been briefed on the state of affairs and is receiving common updates, a Justice Division spokeswoman mentioned.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace’s assertion mentioned the suspect was taken into custody close to Palm Metropolis, Florida, about 45 miles north of Trump’s golf course. The northbound lanes of I-95 have been closed, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
A message despatched to marketing campaign officers looking for info on the safety standing and site of Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s operating mate, was not instantly returned.
Max Egusquiza of Palm Seashore described the emergency response outdoors Trump’s golf course in West Palm Seashore.
“From what I noticed, 5 unmarked black SUVs blocked a gray Mercedes in entrance of the golf course. There have been about 20 or extra police automobiles flying in from the close by streets,” he mentioned.
Trump is ready to discuss cryptocurrencies stay on Monday night time on social media website X for the launch of his sons’ cryptocurrency platform. He’s anticipated to take action from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The previous president is scheduled to return to the marketing campaign path on Tuesday for a city corridor in Flint, Michigan, together with his former press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, adopted by a marketing campaign rally in Lengthy Island, New York, on Wednesday.
Later within the week, he’s scheduled to attend and handle the Israeli-American Council Nationwide Summit in Washington, D.C., and on Saturday he’ll maintain a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina.
