Suspect charged with illegal possession of weapons

In two months, Donald Trump was the target of two assassination attempts. In July, the Republican candidate forNovember US presidential election next had been hit in the ear at a meeting in Pennsylvania by the shots of a young man, shot dead by the police. On Sunday, September 15, the former President of the United States was the target, according to the FBI, of a “alleged assassination attempt”Florida. The suspect has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

In the aftermath of this event which could, once again, have turned the electoral campaign on its head, The Figaro takes stock of what you need to know.

‘Shots fired near’ Donald Trump

Sunday, “shortly before 2 p.m.” According to the Secret Service (USSS), the elite unit responsible for protecting high-ranking political figures, gunshots were heard “close” Donald Trump. The latter was then on the course of his golf course, the Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach (Florida).

At a press conference after the incident, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw detailed what happened. Secret Service agents were standing a few holes in front of the Republican candidate when they noticed the end of a gun stuck through the fence, about 400 to 500 yards away from the former president. They opened fire.

The man dropped his weapon and fled in an SUV. He was later arrested in a neighboring county by local law enforcement. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said the suspect “was not armed” when law enforcement removed him from his car. He was calm and showed little emotion, the sheriff said, adding that he did not ask why he was being arrested. “He never asked any questions”Brought before the judge, the man was charged with illegal possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number.

AK-47 and GoPro found

In the bush where the shooter was hiding, law enforcement found an AK-47 assault rifle, two backpacks and a GoPro camera. Law enforcement photos provided to the press by Ric Bradshaw show the two black bags hanging from a chain-link fence in the bushes outside the course, with the weapon wedged between them and pointed through a hole in the fence.

The GoPro camera is attached to the fence, as if to film in the direction of the shot.

“I am safe and I am fine”

Shortly after the shooting, the 78-year-old former real estate tycoon’s teams sent messages to the press assuring: “Don’t worry, I’m safe and I’m fine. No one was hurt. Thank God.”

In a publication later posted on his social networkTruth, Donald Trump pays tribute to the “American secret services, [au] Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his team of courageous and dedicated patriots, as well [qu’à] “All law enforcement officers for the incredible work they did today to keep me safe.”.

Ryan Wesley Routh, the main suspect arrested

Details of the suspect’s identity have emerged. According to US media, it is Ryan Wesley Routha 58-year-old white man from North Carolina who lives in Kaaawa, Hawaii. Authorities have not confirmed this at this point. Additionally, there is no indication that the man opened fire before being arrested. His motives remain unknown.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Ryan Wesley Routh owns a lightweight housing construction company called Camp Box in Hawaii. According to the Associated Press, “Routh frequently posted on social media about the war in Ukraine and had a website where he sought to raise money and recruit volunteers to travel to kyiv to take part in the fight.”. In 2023, he declared in a New York Times article devoted to American volunteers who were taking part in the Ukrainian war effort that he had traveled to Ukraine and wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban to fight there. Several times, the man shared his dream of a “massive civil army” from all over the world.

In 2022, AFP interviewed him in kyiv during a demonstration in support of Ukrainians trapped in the port city of Mariupol. “Putin is a terrorist and he needs to be finished. So we need everyone, all over the world, to stop what they are doing and come here now.”he told the French agency.

Politically, Ryan Wesley Routh appears to be a Democratic partisan. According to NBC Newsthe latter made “small contributions to the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, including 19 in 2019 and 2020 for amounts ranging from $1 to $25”. “In recent years, his posts suggest he has turned away from Trump and expressed support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”adds Associated Press . “@realDonaldTrump While you were my choice in 2016, I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we were all very disappointed and it seems like you are getting worse and worse. I will be glad when you are gone.”he wrote in 2020, for example, reports CBS News.

His criminal record shows eight arrests, most for minor offenses. However, one article by News & Records dated December 2002 reports that a man with the same name was arrested after a “three-hour confrontation” with law enforcement in Greensboro, North Carolina. The article says he was pulled over during a traffic stop, obtained a gun and barricaded himself inside a roofing business he owned.

FBI opens investigation

In the evening, the FBI announced the opening of an investigation into “alleged assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump”.

“Violence has no place in America,” says Kamala Harris

“I have been made aware of reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his Florida property, and I am pleased he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”wrote about X the vice-president and Democratic Party candidate for the American presidential election.

Similar remarks to those of the President Joe Bidenwho said “relieved” that Donald Trump is “unharmed”. “There is no place for political violence or any violence in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that the Secret Service has all the resources, capabilities, and safeguards necessary to ensure the continued safety of the former president.”he added in a series of messages posted on X.

Zelensky, Starmer… Reactions from world leaders

Several Foreign leaders reacted to the incident. On X, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said to himself “happy” to know Donald Trump “safe and sound”. “I extend my best wishes to him and his family (…) The rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world. We sincerely hope that everyone will be safe.” For his part, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said to himself “very, very worried”. “I think it’s really important that we make it clear that violence should have no place in any democratic process.”he said from Rome.

In Moscow, authorities say “to watch” the information “coming from” from Washington, seeing the assassination attempt as an intensification of the electoral campaign.