WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Authorities have apprehended a suspect following an attempted assassination near former President Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sunday. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw revealed that a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle with a scope protruding from a fence, immediately engaging the suspect in a tense and rapidly unfolding situation.
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The suspect was positioned between 300 to 500 yards away from Trump at the time of the incident, according to officials familiar with the investigation. A witness, who later played a crucial role in the suspect's capture, saw the individual fleeing from the bushes and managed to photograph his vehicle, a black Nissan, which led law enforcement directly to the suspect.
“We had a witness who came forward and said, ‘I saw the guy running out of the bushes. He jumped into a black Nissan, and I took a picture of the vehicle and the tag,’” Sheriff Bradshaw stated at a press conference. “This critical information allowed us to track the vehicle and alert the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, which quickly detained the suspect.”
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was first alerted at approximately 1:30 p.m. ET by the U.S. Secret Service, which reported gunshots. The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was apprehended without a weapon in his possession, and his vehicle was immediately secured and transferred to FBI custody for further examination.
Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder described the arrest and noted that his office deployed extensive resources to capture the suspect safely. “We flooded Interstate 95 and closed down a significant section of the highway to ensure this suspect was intercepted without further risk to public safety,” Snyder said. “I have full confidence from the investigators that we have the individual responsible.”
Sheriff Snyder also reported that the suspect remained unusually composed during the arrest, displaying little emotion and not questioning why he was being detained. “He wasn’t showing any signs of distress or surprise, which is concerning given the severity of the situation,” Snyder added.
The FBI has taken over the investigation in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service. Special Agent Jeffrey Veltri of the FBI’s Miami field office urged the public to remain clear of the area and called for anyone with information to come forward via the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or through the FBI’s website. “This was a targeted, premeditated act, and we are utilizing every resource to support this investigation,” Veltri stated during a news conference.
The incident also prompted a lockdown at Trump’s campaign office in West Palm Beach, where staff members were present during the time of the shooting. The lockdown has since been lifted, but the heightened security and ongoing investigation continue to underscore the gravity of the incident.
Authorities have not disclosed any further details regarding the suspect’s motive or background as the investigation remains active. The attempted assassination marks one of the most serious security breaches near the former president, raising questions about the ongoing threats faced by high-profile political figures in the United States.
