Shots were fired at former President Donald Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach on Sunday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. while Trump was playing a round of golf with real estate investor Steve Witkoff.
The incident occurred when a gunman, armed with an AK-47 equipped with a scope, attempted to target Trump.
It is not yet clear whether the gunman fired his weapon or if Secret Service agents opened fire first after identifying the individual as a threat.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspect’s intended target was President Trump, and the FBI is treating the incident as an attempted assassination. Fortunately, Trump and everyone on the golf course at the time were unharmed.
According to reports from the Associated Press (AP), the gunman positioned the muzzle of his rifle through a fence surrounding the golf course before Secret Service agents responded by firing at him.
The agents had been monitoring the course from a few holes ahead of Trump when they noticed the armed individual.
“The person appeared to push the muzzle of the rifle through the fence line, and that’s when agents fired,” officials told AP.
The suspect exploited a vulnerable area of the property’s perimeter, where golfers, including Trump, are often visible from outside the fence.
According to AP reporters, photographers have historically used these vantage points to capture images of Trump while he was golfing during his presidency.
After the shots were fired, the gunman fled the scene, escaping into a black vehicle. However, law enforcement quickly apprehended him in Martin County.
The Secret Service and local authorities are now investigating how the suspect breached the property and any potential security weaknesses.
Fox News host Sean Hannity provided additional details, stating that he had spoken with Trump three times in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Hannity explained that Trump was on the 5th hole, preparing to putt, when he heard several gunshots. Within seconds, Secret Service agents moved in to protect the former president, swiftly covering him.
Hannity also mentioned that snipers were stationed on the course with tripods, ready to respond.
The firearm was recovered and identified as an AK-47. Law enforcement used drone footage to track the suspect as he fled, ultimately leading to his arrest after he abandoned the rifle.
The Secret Service continues to assess the situation and has not released further details on the suspect’s motives or how he managed to approach such a high-security area.
Trump’s safety remains their top priority, and additional precautions are expected to be implemented to prevent future incidents.
WATCH:
JUST IN: Fox’s @SeanHannity tells viewers he has spoken to @realDonaldTrump after today’s shooting incident and confirms that the former President is “safe and unharmed” after the “Secret Service pounced on the President” at the fifth hole of the golf course to protect him and… pic.twitter.com/0bmXWVzMKS
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) September 15, 2024
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference following the second assassination attempt against Trump.
Law enforcement officers confirmed the gunman pushed the muzzle of his rifle through the fence line. At this point Secret Service agents fired on him.
