U.S. Secret Service brokers opened hearth after seeing an individual with a firearm close to former President Donald Trump’s golf membership in West Palm Seashore, Florida, whereas he was {golfing} Sunday, in accordance with two regulation enforcement officers. The Republican presidential candidate is protected.
The particular person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended in a close-by county by native regulation enforcement, the officers stated. The officers weren’t licensed to debate the matter publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity about an ongoing investigation.
An AK-style firearm was recovered on the scene close to Trump’s golf course, one of many officers and a 3rd regulation enforcement official stated.
The golf course was partially shut down for Trump as he performed, and brokers have been a couple of holes forward of him once they seen the particular person with the firearm, the officers stated. The particular person appeared to push the muzzle of the rifle by the fence line and that’s when brokers fired, the officers stated
Trump’s marketing campaign and the Secret Service stated Trump was protected, and the company stated it was investigating the incident that occurred shortly earlier than 2 p.m.
The incident comes roughly two months after Trump was shot throughout an assassination try at a rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast swing that included a Friday night time rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser.
No accidents have been reported, in accordance with a spokesperson for the Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Workplace in Florida.
The White Home stated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had each been briefed and could be saved up to date on the investigation. The White Home added they have been “relieved” to know Trump is protected.
Harris, in a press release stated she was “glad” Trump was protected, including that “violence has no place in America.”
In an X put up, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, one in every of Trump’s high congressional allies, stated he had spoken with Trump after the incident and that Trump was in “good spirits” and was “one of many strongest individuals I’ve ever recognized.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace stated in a Fb put up on Sunday that it has stopped a car on northbound Interstate 95 and brought a suspect into custody who’s believed to be linked to the taking pictures.
The sheriff’s workplace stated it made the cease after authorities in neighboring Palm Seashore County put out a “be on the lookout” alert.
The put up by the Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace indicated the suspect was apprehended close to Palm Metropolis, Florida, a couple of 45-mile drive north of Trump’s golf course. Northbound lanes of I-95 have been shut down, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland has been briefed on the scenario and is receiving common updates about it, a Justice Division spokeswoman stated.
Trump typically spends the morning enjoying golf, earlier than having lunch on the Trump Worldwide Golf Membership West Palm Seashore, one in every of three he owns within the state.
Trump has had a stepped-up safety footprint because the assassination try in July. When he has been at Trump Tower in New York, a lineup of dump vehicles have parked in a wall exterior the constructing. And at outside rallies, he now speaks from behind an enclosure of bulletproof glass.
A message despatched to marketing campaign officers looking for data on the safety standing and site of Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s operating mate, was not instantly returned.
Max Egusquiza, of Palm Seashore, described the emergency response exterior Trump’s West Palm Seashore golf course.
“From what I saw 5 black unmarked SUVs blocked in a grey Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more cop cars flying from nearby streets,” he stated.
