The man in custody in connection with an alleged second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump has a lengthy criminal and civil court history. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was taken into custody after shots were fired at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh has a previous conviction for possessing a machine gun in 2002. The arrest at that time came after Routh led authorities on a vehicle chase and was found in possession of a fully automatic machine gun. He has also faced convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of stolen property, hit-and-run, resisting an officer, and driving on a suspended license in North Carolina.
Routh has been involved in over 100 criminal cases in North Carolina, most of which were in Guilford County, beneath Greensboro. The outcomes of these cases are not immediately clear. Additionally, civil court records show Routh was involved in a 2003 divorce, as well as multiple civil judgments related to lawsuits from contractors and individuals against a roofing company he helped run. Palm Beach County State’s Attorney Dave Aronberg revealed that the federal government would be taking over the prosecution in the West Palm Beach case, with the U.S. Justice Department expected to file any charges. Aronberg argued that a charge of attempted assassination could be included in the case even if Routh did not open fire.
The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged assassination attempt at the Trump International Golf Club are still unclear. Authorities stated that Routh was “lying in wait” for Trump before U.S. Secret Service agents spotted him. Routh had reportedly aimed at the agent who fired at him. Photos taken after the incident show a weapon, a backpack, and a GoPro camera outside the golf club. Routh had been living in the small coastal community of Kaaawa on Oahu’s eastern shore in Hawaii prior to the incident. Law enforcement in Hawaii has not responded to inquiries about any prior contacts with Routh.
Routh’s criminal record in North Carolina dates back to the early 2000s and includes convictions for various offenses such as possession of a weapon of mass destruction, carrying a concealed weapon, and hit-and-run. He received suspended sentences in many of these cases, along with probation or parole. There is no record of Routh spending time in state prison for these offenses. The court records also indicate misdemeanor convictions for resisting an officer and driving on a suspended license. The exact details of each case have not been made public.
The U.S. Secret Service agents intervened before any harm could come to former President Trump during the incident at the golf club in Florida. The weapon and other items found at the scene have been collected as evidence in the ongoing investigation. The federal government is expected to press charges against Routh in connection with the alleged assassination attempt. The exact charges that will be filed have not been released. The incident has raised concerns about the security of former presidents and the importance of vigilant protection against potential threats.
