AK-47 found near Trump’s Palm Beach golf course. FBI says man attempted assassination
A man hiding an AK-47 in bushes near former President Donald Trump’s golf club in Palm Beach was detained after what “appears to be an attempted assassination,” according to the FBI.
In a statement Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Secret Service announced that there was a “protective incident” involving the former president shortly before 2 p.m. The statement also said the former president was safe.
The gunshots rang out near the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach after agents unloaded shots at the suspected assassin. The shooting occurred just months after Trump was grazed by a bullet in an attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Here’s what we know about the shooting:
AK-47 found in bushes?
At around 1:30 p.m., the Secret Service reported shots fired at the golf course, Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at news conference Sunday. The sheriff’s office was notified immediately as it is in “constant contact” with the agency.
In nearby bushes, deputies and agents found an AK-47 with a scope as well as two backpacks and a GoPro, Bradshaw said. Investigators are processing the items located.
At the time of the incident, Trump was 300 to 500 yards away from the bushes. Bradshaw, however, raised security concerns about the scope of the weapon.
The suspect, whose identify has yet to be released, was identified by a witness as a man he spotted in the bushes, Bradshaw said. The witness told authorities he saw the man speed off in a black Nissan, so he took a photo of the car and its license plate.
The sheriff also stated that the Secret Service “did exactly what they should have done” and commended the cooperation between the several law enforcement agencies.
“That’s how we got the guy,” he said.
Feds fired at suspected assassin
A Secret Service official said personnel shot at the gunman. Agents were one or two holes behind Trump and have increased security because “the threat level is high.”
The FBI is the lead agency on the investigation, according to Jeffrey Veltri, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.
Veltri urged the public to avoid the area around the golf course — and to come forward with information by contacting the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI or tips.fbi.gov.
Suspect facing federal charges
Law enforcement sources told the Miami Herald Sunday evening that the case is being handled by the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The suspect in custody will have his first appearance in West Palm Beach federal court on Monday.
At the news conference, Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg said prosecutors were working on search warrants and intended to keep the suspect behind bars pending trial.
What charges the suspect faces remain unclear.
Person in custody after shooting
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder told reporters that the agency detained a suspect in connection to the shooting. Officers saw the suspect’s vehicle on Interstate 95 and pulled over the driver.
The suspect, Snyder said, wasn’t armed when he was in custody. The FBI, Secret Service and Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office are on the scene, which shut down stretches of I-95.
Biden, Harris ‘relieved’ Trump is safe
Officials in the Biden administration said Sunday that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed about the security incident, which happened where Trump was golfing.
“They are relieved to know that he is safe,” the statement says.
This report will be updated as more information becomes available. Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report
