During the trial of Ryan Routh, an FBI sniper revealed the strategic hiding spot chosen by the accused man in an alleged attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course. FBI Special Agent Nicholas Schnelle testified that the sniper, positioned 126 feet away from the sixth hole at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, was well concealed by vegetation, making it a close and clear vantage point.
According to Schnelle, the SKS rifle recovered from the scene had an effective range of 350 meters, significantly surpassing the distance from the hiding spot to the target on the green. The presence of a scope would have further facilitated a precise shot at a human-sized target on the course.
Routh, the defendant, faces charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and firearm violations. The trial, which entered its sixth day of testimony, is progressing swiftly, with prosecutors expected to conclude their case imminently, paving the way for Routh to present his defense next week.
In a compelling turn of events, a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detective recounted surveillance footage showing a man resembling Routh observing Trump’s plane at the Palm Beach International Airport prior to the purported assassination attempt. The detective clarified that photographing airplanes at the airport is legal, responding to Routh’s queries during cross-examination.
The trial also featured testimony from a Secret Service agent who thwarted the alleged attack at the golf course, causing Routh to abandon his weapon and flee after being confronted. Law enforcement successfully apprehended Routh with the help of a witness who identified him fleeing the scene after gunshots were heard.