Attempted Attack on Trump: Secret Service Opens Fire, One Arrested \ Newslooks \ Washington \ Gunshots were reported near Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club on Sunday, but the former president is safe. Secret Service agents opened fire after spotting a person with a firearm. The suspect fled in an SUV but was later arrested. Officials are investigating the incident, which occurred just two months after an assassination attempt on Trump.
Gunshots Near Trump Golf Course Quick Looks:
- Secret Service agents opened fire after spotting a person with a firearm near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
- The armed suspect fled in an SUV but was later apprehended by local law enforcement.
- Trump, safe and uninjured, returned to his Mar-a-Lago residence after the incident.
- No injuries were reported, and the FBI is investigating the incident as a potential assassination attempt.
- Two months ago, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Deep Look:
Gunshots were reported in the vicinity of former President Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon near his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that Trump, who was golfing at the time, was unharmed and quickly escorted to safety.
According to law enforcement officials, Secret Service agents opened fire after noticing a person with a firearm pushing the muzzle of an AK-style rifle through the perimeter fence of the golf course. This occurred shortly before 2 p.m. The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, fled the scene in an SUV but was later apprehended in a neighboring county by local law enforcement officers.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder provided additional details, noting that the suspect, who was not armed at the time of his arrest, remained calm and showed little emotion when pulled over by police. “He never asked what the arrest was about,” Snyder remarked, highlighting the suspect’s indifferent demeanor during the encounter. The suspect was apprehended near Palm City, roughly 45 miles north of Trump’s golf club. Photos released by the sheriff’s office showed multiple law enforcement vehicles surrounding the SUV on Interstate 95, which was briefly shut down as the suspect was taken into custody.
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the incident and whether the shots were intended to target Trump. Meanwhile, the FBI has opened an investigation, calling the situation “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of the former president. The firearm used in the incident was recovered at the scene, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke anonymously due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Trump, who is currently campaigning for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election, reassured his supporters shortly after the incident. In an email, he stated, “I AM SAFE AND WELL!” and added, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!” His statement echoed his firm stance following a prior assassination attempt in Pennsylvania two months earlier, during which he was grazed by a bullet while speaking at a rally.
Trump’s campaign confirmed that he was returned safely to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago, located nearby in Palm Beach, after the incident. His schedule on Sunday was not publicly announced, although he frequently spends his mornings playing golf before having lunch at his West Palm Beach club.
Law enforcement officials noted that the golf course had been partially closed off for Trump while he played. Secret Service agents were stationed a few holes ahead of him when they spotted the suspect armed with a firearm, prompting them to take swift action. While the details remain under investigation, officials say that the suspect attempted to fire before dropping the weapon and fleeing the scene.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he had spoken with Trump following the incident. Graham said that Trump was in “good spirits” and described him as “one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns as Trump continues his 2024 campaign trail. Just two months prior, during a rally in Pennsylvania, an assassination attempt left Trump with a minor injury after a bullet grazed his ear. That incident, combined with Sunday’s shooting, has raised concerns about the safety of the former president as he engages with supporters across the country.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has not reported any injuries connected to the incident, and officials are still working to determine whether the shots were fired near the golf course or within its grounds. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the situation and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the investigation unfolds, with a press briefing scheduled for later in the day. As of now, law enforcement officials are not releasing additional information regarding the identity or motive of the suspect involved.
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