Ryan Routh, 59, was found guilty of the attempted murder of then-leading presidential candidate Donald Trump and four other charges. The man allegedly pointed a rifle at Trump on September 15, 2024, on the golf course at Golf Club West Palm Beach, Florida. Secret Service Agents then responded.
What charges did Ryan Routh face?
What happened after the verdict was announced?
Where did the attack on Trump take place?
How long did Routh's trial take?
The trial in the court in Fort Pierce (Florida) lasted 12 days in September and ended after two hours of jury deliberations. Moments after the verdict was announced on September 23, Routh allegedly reached for a pen and tried to stab his neck, but was stopped by Sheriff's Office officers. According to the Independent, his daughter, who was present in the room, allegedly shouted: “Dad, don't hurt yourself.”
Prosecutors argued that Routh wanted to shoot Trump
The 59-year-old was previously charged with attempted murder of the main presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted person, and possession of a weapon with a blurred serial number.
During the trial, prosecutors emphasized that this was not an ordinary criminal case and that the defendant “wanted” to shoot Trump even though he did not fire any shots. According to them, Routh “obsessively tracked his victim” (he slept in a car parked in front of the golf course and followed Trump's schedule), and the attack was meticulously planned by him.
