Florida [US], September 16: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that it is investigating the assassination of former President Donald Trump after a shooting occurred at the golf course where he was playing on September 15.
According to CNN, the FBI announced that it is investigating an apparent plot to assassinate former President Trump in West Palm Beach (Florida, USA) after a shooting at the golf course where the former president was playing on September 15.
The New York Times quoted a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (Florida, USA) confirming that a shooting occurred "on the premises" of the Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach on September 15 while Mr. Trump was present.
A Trump campaign spokesman said: "President Trump is safe following gunshots heard in the vicinity. No further details are available at this time."
According to Sheriff Bradshaw, US Secret Service agents fired at least four shots at about 1:30 p.m. on September 15.
A person involved has been arrested and CNN, citing a security source, revealed that this person is named Ryan Wesley Routh.
A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel protruding from the fence and responded. The suspect then fled in a car but was stopped on the highway. A witness saw the suspect running from the bushes after the gunshots and took a photo of the suspect's car, which led to the arrest.
Meanwhile, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said his forces deployed heavily on Interstate 95 and blocked a long stretch before safely apprehending the subject.
Snyder said the suspect was relatively calm when he was arrested. "He didn't show much emotion. He didn't ask what was wrong," Snyder said. The sheriff said the suspect was unarmed when law enforcement removed him from the vehicle.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said he found a weapon and other items left behind by the suspect as he hid in bushes near the golf course.
The hiding place was about 300-500 yards (274-457 m) from where Mr Trump was standing. "In the bushes where he was hiding, there was an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks with ceramic tiles hanging on the fence and a GoPro camera," Mr Bradshaw said.
At the time of the shooting, Mr. Trump was moving from the fifth to the sixth hole at the golf course with sponsor Steve Witkoff. The golf course was immediately locked down.
The former president has returned to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida following the assassination attempt .
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have both been briefed on the incident and said they were relieved to hear Mr Trump was safe.
The incident comes after Mr Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt while campaigning in Pennsylvania in July.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper