By Steve Neavling
Ryan Routh, the alleged gunman in the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, was previously flagged in a 2019 tip to the FBI.
According to Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge of the Miami field office, the bureau received information that Routh, a felon, was in possession of a firearm, Newsweek reports.
“In following up on the tip, the alleged complainant was interviewed and did not verify providing the initial information,” Veltri said at a news conference. “The FBI passed that information to local law enforcement in Honolulu.”
Routh allegedly waited in the bushes at a Trump golf course in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday as the former president approached during a golf outing. A Secret Service agent, scouting the course ahead of Trump, spotted the muzzle of a gun protruding from behind a fence and opened fire. Routh reportedly fled the scene on foot before escaping by car, only to be apprehended later in a neighboring county. The 58-year-old from Hawaii now faces federal gun charges.
During a Monday afternoon press update, representatives from the Secret Service, FBI, and Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office revealed that Trump’s presence at the golf course, near his Mar-a-Lago estate, was “off-the-record,” meaning it was not publicly disclosed.
Investigators are still trying to determine how Routh knew Trump would be at the golf course or whether it was a coincidence.
“The investigation remains at its early stages,” said Mark Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Veltri added that agents are canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance footage and reviewing Routh’s social media accounts. So far, there is no indication that Routh had any accomplices.
