The man accused of the second alleged assassination attempt on former President Trump was “poised” and composed when law enforcement officers closed in on him, signaling that he knew “the gig was up,” the Florida sheriff who arrested him revealed.
In an interview on “America Reports” Monday, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder praised law enforcement and credited a civilian bystander for turning over a photograph of the Black Nissan that 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh used to flee.
Minutes earlier, Secret Service agents had fired shots in Routh’s direction when they spotted him poking a rifle through the fence around Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., where the former president was playing a round of golf.
Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh was seen being taken into custody Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in bodycam footage released Monday. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office )
“The coordination between the Palm Beach County’s sheriff’s office which gave usthe information and my road patroldeputies was flawless,”Snyder said. “Had it not been for a civilianwitness who did the right thing,gave us a description and apicture of it, actually, and had the Palm Beach sheriff’s office notbeen so good about getting thatinformation out, that guywould’ve gotten past us and whoknows what would’ve happenednext.”
WHO IS RYAN WESLEY ROUTH: ALLEGED GUNMAN AT TRUMP GOLF CLUB
Snyder described a “very tense” few minutes before authorities were able to track down the purported would-be assassin. Despite the 30 rifles drawn at him and helicopters overhead, Routh appeared oddly unbothered when law enforcement closed in, Snyder recalled.
“Right after the stop, what Isaw was someone who was verypoised, very in control ofhimself.Even though we had armed deputies all over the place,probably 30 deputies out there,rifles, a helicopter overhead,both north and southbound on I-95shut down.He’s in the middle of it all,he never asked ‘Hey, what’s this about?When I saw that, I realized heknew what time it was,” Snyder said.
“He knew that the gig was up, andhe was caught.”
Ryan Routh is accused of aiming a rifle at former President Trump while he was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. It is being investigated as a second assassination attempt on Trump. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
At the time, Snyder said he was initially informed that shots had been fired but was not updated that the shots had been fired by Secret Service agents.
“We operated on thatpotential and that informationand made them stop thinking wewere encountering an armed assassin ofthe former president,” he said.
“We were aware that we weremaking probably what would bethe highest profile stop maybe inthe history of this sheriff’s office,”he added. “We did have the BOLO from thePalm Beach County sheriff’s office.We did know the vehicledescription, the tag…we knewthey were northbound on I-95.We pulledonto the interstate and one of mypatrol deputies picked thatvehicle out of the traffic,called out the location,surrounded it with heavy-dutytrucks, forced it off the road,then at gunpoint got the suspectout of the vehicle and safely incustody.”
BODYCAM VIDEO CAPTURES ARREST OF TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SUSPECT
Authorities said Routh had two backpacks, bullet-deflecting ceramic plates and a GoPro camera when he was detained. His rifle was also recovered by authorities.
Bodycam footage that was released Monday afternoon showed the moment deputies arrested Routh. The video shows deputies ordering the driver to slowly walk backwards with his hands on his head toward deputies after surrendering.
Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh was seen being taken into custody Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in bodycam footage released Monday. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office )
Routh appeared for a federal court hearing in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday morning, where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Fox News is told additional federal charges are possible. The initial charges announced Monday will keep Routh in custody.
Fox News’ Stephen Sorance and Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
