Ryan Routh arrest: Rifle used by would-be Donald Trump assassin revealed in new photos

The gun was found in Ryan Routh’s alleged sniper’s nest outside Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach.

Published on: Sep 24, 2024, 06:36:36 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Ryan Wesley Routh, the man who allegedly tried to assassinate former president Donald Trump, was locked and loaded,with 10 rounds in the magazine, as well as one in the chamber of his Soviet-designed SKS assault rifle, federal prosecutors have reportedly said. The first close-up photo of the firearm was revealed in a detention memo filed Monday, September 23. The gun was found in Routh’s alleged sniper’s nest outside Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach.

Ryan Routh arrest: Rifle used by would-be Donald Trump assassin revealed (Hédi Aouidj via AP) (AP)

The gun has been modified with a detachable magazine, a modern stock, as well as a scope to make it accurate to shoot at long range, New York Post reported. Prosecutors claimed the serial number on the rifle was “obliterated and unreadable.” The court papers confirmed that Routh’s fingerprints were discovered on the rifle.

The gun, and backpacks and a GoPro camera, were found by the feds after Routh fled the spot he was at, allegedly planning to assassinate Trump, who was playing golf. He escaped after the Secret Service noticed him and opened fire at him.

Prosecutors say Ryan Routh poses a danger to the community

On Monday, during a detention hearing in a federal court in West Palm Beach, prosecutors told a judge that they will be urging a grand jury to mount the charge of trying to “assassinate a major political candidate” against the suspect. At present, Routh is facing two counts related to possession of the SKS rifle. He faces as many as 15 years in prison.

Prosecutors said that the Hawaii resident should be held in jail until trial as he was dangerous for the community. Judge Ryon McCabe agreed, as the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong.” However, Routh’s lawyer, Kristy Militello, disagreed, and asked for the suspect to be allowed to live with his sister in North Carolina. Militello claimed Routh did not pose a danger, and had made court appearances in previous cases.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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