3 days Ago
Morning news brief LEILA FADEL, HOST: A man is in custody after what the FBI says was an apparent attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump while he was golfing yesterday in West Palm Beach, Fla. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Police arrested Ryan Wesley Routh as he fled north in his vehicle on Interstate 95. If it is confirmed that this was an assassination attempt, it is the second against Trump.
Secret Service Special Agent Rafael Barros spoke yesterday at a news conference. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) RAFAEL BARROS: The threat level is high. We have increased the amount of assets that we've supported.
We live in danger times. FADEL: NPR's Greg Allen joins us now from West Palm Beach. Hi, Greg.
GREG ALLEN, BYLINE: Good morning. FADEL: So how close did this alleged gunman get to former President Trump? ALLEN: Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said yesterday that Trump was about 300 to 400 yards away when a Secret Service agent saw the alleged gunman at the tree line at the golf course. The weapon he left behind, which is identified as an AK-47, was equipped with a scope, and Ric Bradshaw said that would put the president within range.
But he had only praise with how the Secret Service handled the president's security yesterday. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) RIC BRADSHAW: They have an agent that jumps one hole ahead of time to where the president was at. And he was able to spot this rifle barrel sticking out of the fence and immediately engage that individual, at which time the individual took off.
ALLEN: Yeah, when Routh fled, he left behind the rifle, a couple of backpacks and a GoPro that was attached to the fence that was apparently there to record the events. A bystander got a photo of his car and police did arrest him a little later as he was driving north. FADEL: And what do we know about Routh? ALLEN: Ryan Wesley Routh has a record of arrests mostly for minor offenses, but he also has a felony on his record for illegally.
.. Leila Fadel.
