Mon Sep 16 15:52:47 UTC 2024: ## Man With Obsession For Ukraine War Charged In Apparent Trump Assassination Attempt
**West Palm Beach, FL** – A man with a lengthy criminal record and a recent fixation on the war in Ukraine has been arrested in connection with an apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, authorities announced Monday.
The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was apprehended on Sunday afternoon on Interstate 95 near West Palm Beach after allegedly aiming a rifle at Trump at his golf club.
According to the Secret Service, an agent spotted a rifle protruding from a fence near Trump’s location on the course. The suspect, hiding in nearby shrubbery, was engaged by the agent who opened fire, forcing Routh to flee in a black Nissan. He was apprehended shortly after.
Routh did not fire his weapon and did not have Trump in his line of sight, officials said. He was found to have a loaded rifle with a scope, a digital camera, a backpack, and food.
Routh, a former North Carolina resident who recently lived in Hawaii, was charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
His criminal history includes a 2002 conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction, as well as several misdemeanors and felonies related to traffic violations, carrying concealed weapons, and possession of stolen goods.
Routh, who described himself as a supporter turned critic of Trump, has been outspoken about his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. He even traveled to Kyiv in 2022, aiming to fight for freedom and human rights.
Routh has been actively recruiting foreigners to fight in Ukraine, and even attempted to secure passports for Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban to send them to the war zone.
In a 2023 self-published book, Routh expressed his support for Ukraine and condemned the January 6th Capitol insurrection as a catastrophe perpetrated by Trump.
While his sons have expressed disbelief at his actions, Routh’s history and recent actions paint a picture of a man consumed by the war in Ukraine and potentially driven by a personal vendetta against Trump.
The incident has sparked international reactions, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemning the attempted assassination and the Kremlin commenting on the consequences of “playing with fire.”
Routh remains in custody pending his arraignment on September 30.
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