A series of shots were fired by the Secret Service on a golf course owned by the former president in Florida, without affecting or injuring the Republican presidential candidate. Both his campaign and Trump himself indicated that he was fine, while an operation was deployed to clarify a new violent incident involving weapons near the tycoon.
Former US president and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is “safe and well,” he said in a fundraising email, after it was reported that the Secret Service fired multiple shots at an armed suspect outside his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred Sunday afternoon while the millionaire ex-president was inside the venue, local media reported, and the FBI has called the incident an alleged “attempted murder.”
In the absence of a further investigation, US media reported that sources on the ground said the shots were fired outside the golf course fence, and the Trump campaign quickly reported that he was fine, without providing further details to campaign officials. Reuters detailed.
Moments later, the Associated Press reported that U.S. Secret Service agents assigned to protect the former president opened fire on a person they saw with a gun near the center where Trump was, two unnamed law enforcement sources said.
So far, no injuries have been reported, but one person has been arrested. This was reported on social media by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, where they explained that “a vehicle and a suspect were arrested.” The man fled in a van and was later arrested in a neighboring county by local police.
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder told local media that the man appeared “relatively calm” after his arrest. “He didn’t show much emotion. He never asked, ‘What’s this about?'” He also said he was unarmed at the time of his arrest.
In an email, Trump assured everyone that he was safe. “Shots have been fired near my home, but before the rumors get out of hand, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” he wrote. “Nothing will stop me. I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!” “I will always love you for having my back,” he added.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time while the Republican candidate was playing on his golf course, the newspaper reported. Washington Post and, after hearing the gunshots, his escort took him to a waiting room. According to CNN, he was playing with donor Steve Witkoff when the incident occurred, and they were between the fifth and sixth holes. The Secret Service shot the suspect as a protective measure, a source told the aforementioned North American television network.
According to West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, an agent assigned to protect presidents and former presidents, he was able to detect the barrel of a rifle protruding from the fence, so he “confronted” the suspect, he told local media.
Following the incident, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera noted that “the intent at this time is unknown.” However, CNN cited a law enforcement source as saying that the suspect’s goal is to assassinate the former president. If this theory is true, it wouldn’t be the first time a similar incident has occurred during the ongoing presidential campaign, considering the failed attempt to kill Trump at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris said they were “relieved” that Trump was safe. “The President and Vice President have been briefed on the security incident at Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved that he is safe. His team will keep you regularly updated,” the White House said in a statement.
“Violence has no place in America,” Harris added in a message on the social network X.
Meanwhile, the former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., summoned local security forces to verify that an AK-47, a large-caliber automatic weapon, had been found in the bushes near the field, he said on the same social network. According to Fox 5, an AK-47 equipped with a telescopic sight, two backpacks and a GoPro were confiscated and treated as evidence.
The investigation was handed over to the FBI, the police institution said a few hours later. “The FBI responded to West Palm Beach, Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” they explained in a statement.
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
