A bodycam video released Monday shows the moment police captured Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump in Florida. The footage, released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, captures Routh’s surrender on northbound Interstate 95, where he was surrounded by police.
In the video, Routh can be seen walking backwards with his shirt over his head, hands on his head, before being handcuffed. The dramatic scene comes after Routh allegedly spent nearly 12 hours near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, waiting for the former president with an SKS-style rifle.
BREAKING: Bodycam footage released by Martin County Sheriff’s Office of arresting Trump assassination attempter.
Thank God President Trump is safe and God bless our brave police officers!
As more information comes to light, how was this possible? pic.twitter.com/w44BeOMq9g
— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) September 16, 2024
Ryan Wesley Routh fled the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, after Secret Service agents opened fire on him after looking down the barrel of his rifle through a chain-link fence. The incident occurred about 300 yards from the former president’s spot on the golf course.
Who is Ryan Routh, the man arrested for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump?
However, Routh didn’t escape for long. A witness provided authorities with a photo of his vehicle, leading to his arrest. Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder said Routh was caught near the Palm City exit 714 on I-95. Mr. Snyder said Routh was “smart” and “just driving with the flow of traffic,” which led him to believe he had evaded capture, Fox News reported.
During the arrest, officers surrounded Routh’s vehicle and forced it to stop after coordinating resources over a two-mile drive. Following his arrest, Routh was arraigned in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he faces charges of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm whose serial number had been obliterated. He is also facing possible additional federal charges.
