The alleged would-be assassin who approached Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday reportedly secured a sniper position in a known security weak spot previously exploited by paparazzi.
The suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, allegedly brought a scoped rifle to Trump's golf course and positioned himself 300-500 yards away from the former president. Secret Service agents spotted him in the shrubbery and fired four to six shots, leading to his arrest outside the course. The Secret Service confirmed that Routh did not exchange gunfire and had no direct line of sight on Trump.
According to a Fox News report, Routh camped out in the sniper's nest for 12 hours, bringing snacks. This vantage point, often used by paparazzi, has long been considered a security risk.
“The tree line at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach has been a known spot for photographers trying to capture candid shots of the former president and other VIPs,” said the report. Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County, confirmed this.
“There have been individuals in the past who have taken pictures of the former president while golfing,” Aronberg noted. “They’ve managed to poke cameras through the fencing. You’d think they’d consider someone scoping the perimeter.”
Aronberg praised the Secret Service for covering such a vast area but acknowledged the difficulty in securing it completely. “It’s not easy to keep constant watch, and someone could potentially slip in and out.”
An unnamed photo agency told the New York Post that photographers usually inform the Secret Service of their presence and maintain a professional relationship with agents when seeking vantage points for photos. However, even homeless people have been spotted loitering around the perimeter.
Pat Diaz, a former Miami-Dade homicide detective, criticized the lack of exterior sweeps, stating, “It’s clear they didn’t check the area thoroughly.” He suggested regular K-9 sweeps should be conducted before the president’s arrival.
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Alleged Attempted Trump , Assassin's Vulnerability , Assassin's Vulnerability