Secret Service Thwarts Alleged Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump at Florida Golf Club

Authorities say Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested after he pointed an AK-47 at Trump while he was playing golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh has a lengthy arrest record dating back to the 1990s, including charges of drug possession, driving without a license, and barricade.

The Secret Service fired at a 58-year-old man who allegedly pointed an AK-47 at former President Donald Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested shortly after the incident.

Authorities are treating the episode as an apparent assassination attempt on Trump.

Secret Service Thwarts Alleged Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump at Florida Golf Club

Routh has a prolific arrest record spanning several decades. A background check revealed that he currently lives in Hawaii and has faced numerous run-ins with police, dating back to at least the 1990s.

In North Carolina, where Routh is a native, his past arrests include simple drug possession, driving without a license, expired inspection, and operating a vehicle with no insurance.

Secret Service Thwarts Alleged Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump at Florida Golf Club

In 2002, the Greensboro News & Record reported that Routh was arrested after barricading himself in his roofing company's office during a three-hour standoff that followed a traffic stop.

Routh relocated to Hawaii in 2017. Since then, he has started a construction company in Hawaii that builds simple housing structures for homeless people.

Secret Service Thwarts Alleged Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump at Florida Golf Club

"This does not appear to be some random guy with an AK-47 walking outside Trump's club," an official said after the Sunday afternoon incident.

A Secret Service member spotted Routh while Trump was playing on the course's fifth hole. Officials say he abandoned an AK-47, a go-pro camera, and two backpacks along a chain-link fence that borders the sixth hole of the course.

Secret Service Thwarts Alleged Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump at Florida Golf Club

Routh fled in an SUV after a member of the Secret Service fired on him, but was soon arrested, according to authorities.

Trump's campaign quickly issued a statement that the 45th president was safe, with Trump following up in a message to supporters that he will "never surrender."

"There were gunshots in my vicinity but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!" he wrote.

"Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!" he continued. "I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again. May God bless you."

The incident is still under investigation.