Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is safe after what the FBI said appeared to be an assassination attempt on Sunday outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Law enforcement officials said during an afternoon press conference that the gunman was in some bushes near the property line of the golf course when Secret Service agents, who were clearing holes ahead of Trump, spotted a rifle barrel in the bushes.
Agents engaged the gunman and fired at least four rounds of ammunition around 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT). The gunman then dropped his rifle, two backpacks and other items and fled in a black Nissan car.
A witness, the sheriff said, saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate.
Authorities then sent out an alert to statewide agencies with the information on the vehicle, which led to sheriff’s deputies in neighboring Martin County stopping and apprehending the suspect on I-95.
“We have somebody in custody right now,” said Palm Beach County sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
Trump’s campaign had earlier said he was safe following gunshots in his vicinity.
Trump sent an email to his fundraising list saying there were “gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” according to an email seen by Reuters.
Trump was injured in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13, raising questions about protection for candidates just months ahead of what looks likely to be a highly contested Nov. 5 election in which he will face off against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Source: Reuters