There have been too many attempts.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County held a joint press conference with officials from the FBI and Secret Service on Sunday, following an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.
The briefing, which took place just before 5 p.m. Eastern time, revealed that the Secret Service reported shots fired at 1:30 p.m. at Trump International Golf Club. An agent from an advance security team, stationed one or two holes ahead of Trump, fired at a man armed with an AK-47 who was hiding in the bushes near a fence line.
Sheriff Bradshaw explained that the Secret Service agent, who noticed the rifle’s muzzle, took action against the assailant, who was positioned between 300 to 500 yards away from Trump. This location provided the gunman a clear view of the fifth, sixth, and seventh holes on the course.
According to Bradshaw, law enforcement was assisted by a witness who saw the suspect and identified both him and his getaway vehicle—a black Nissan. The witness also provided a photo of the vehicle’s license plate. Martin County police later apprehended the suspect on I-95 after pulling over the vehicle.
Bradshaw added that the witness was flown to the county jail, where he confirmed the suspect as the individual seen emerging from the bushes and fleeing in the car. The sheriff also noted that in the area where the suspect was found, an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks containing ceramic tiles, and a Go-Pro camera were discovered.
Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County, stated that prosecutors are preparing warrants for the suspect and a motion for pre-trial detention to ensure he remains in custody. He also mentioned that state charges do not exclude the possibility of federal charges.
Regarding security at the golf course, Bradshaw explained that the course’s landscaping made it difficult to spot individuals once they entered the shrubbery. He noted that although Trump is no longer the sitting president, and thus the security was not as extensive as it would be for a current president, the Secret Service’s response was appropriate. Bradshaw anticipated increased security measures for future visits.
