Suspect who attempted assasinnation attempt on Donald Trump has ties to Greensboro

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who is accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump on his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday, has ties to Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Routh came prepared with an AK-47, a GoPro camera, and other gear, concealed among the bushes of the Trump International Golf Course. This incident unfolded Sunday afternoon.

It appears Routh‘s LinkedIn profile reveals he once walked the halls of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T). Before his recent move to Hawaii in May, he called Greensboro home. However, he also has a criminal record and a political affiliation as an unaffiliated voter. He also voted in the Democratic Primary in Guilford County.

According to reports from the News & Record, Routh’s history includes a 2002 standoff where he barricaded himself inside a Greensboro business, armed and dangerous. His troubles continued in 2003 when he faced charges for driving without a license, carrying a concealed weapon, and a hit-and-run. By 2010, he was convicted for possessing stolen goods, receiving probation for all his offenses, according to the Department of Adult Corrections.

FBI confirms Trump’s 2nd assassination attempt

Sunday, the FBI confirmed the nature of the incident at Trump’s golf course, labeling it an assassination attempt. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw revealed that around 1:30 p.m., Secret Service agents fired shots at Routh, who was discovered lurking in the underbrush, rifle in hand, near the perimeter of the prestigious golf club.

President Joe Biden also released a statement:

“I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt on former President Trump today. A suspect is in custody, and I commend the Secret Service and law enforcement for their vigilance and efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed. There is an active investigation as law enforcement gathers more details. As I’ve said before, there is no place for political violence—or any violence—in our country. I have directed my team to ensure the Secret Service has every resource and capability to protect the former President’s safety.”

Trump’s first assassination attempt

On July 13, 2024, Trump was the target of an assassination attempt while addressing a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was shot in the upper right ear by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who fired eight shots from an AR-15-style rifle from a nearby building’s roof. The attack resulted in the death of one audience member and left two others critically injured. Crooks was later killed by the Counter Sniper Team of the United States Secret Service.