Florida Man Sentenced for Trump Assassination Attempt
A Florida man will spend the rest of his life in prison after attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in 2024. As a result, the case has closed one of the most serious security threats in recent U.S. history.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, received life imprisonment plus 84 months. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon delivered the sentence on February 4. The ruling followed a federal jury conviction on five charges. Notably, the counts included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
Secret Service Foiled the Attack
The incident unfolded at Trump International Golf Club in September 2024. At the time, Secret Service agents were conducting routine protective positioning. However, they spotted Routh hiding near a fence line.
Special Agent Robert Fercano made the critical discovery. He stood one hole ahead of Trump during the security sweep. Suddenly, Fercano observed Routh aiming a rifle from concealment. Consequently, the agent fired immediately to neutralize the threat.
Routh fled the scene under gunfire. Nevertheless, agents secured the abandoned weapon site within minutes. Investigators recovered a loaded Norinco SKS rifle. The firearm held 19 rounds and one chambered bullet. In addition, authorities found steel armor plates and a mounted camera. The device pointed directly at Trump’s scheduled location.
Arrest and Evidence Trail
Meanwhile, a civilian witness reported seeing Routh escape in a black SUV. Officers quickly relayed the information across jurisdictions. Shortly afterward, Martin County deputies arrested him along Interstate 95. Palm Beach County officers supported the coordinated capture.
The AK-47 rifle left behind by Wesley Ryan Routh in a foiled assassination attempt of US President Donald Trump in September 2024. Photo/ US Department of Justice
A vehicle search uncovered multiple phones and travel documents. Furthermore, the papers included international flight routes. Phone data later revealed extensive surveillance activity. Investigators confirmed that Routh tracked Trump’s movements for nearly one month. Between August and September 2024, his phone pinged near the golf club and Mar-a-Lago.
Chilling Letter Strengthened Case
Investigators later recovered a handwritten confession letter. Earlier, Routh left the note at a witness’s home. The letter explicitly described an assassination attempt. Therefore, prosecutors labeled the document deeply disturbing.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the act strongly. She described it as an attack on American democracy.
Federal Agencies Led Investigation
Finally, the FBI, Secret Service, and ATF led the investigation. Local sheriff’s offices provided critical field support. The Fort Pierce trial lasted two weeks in September 2025. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
Ultimately, the life sentence closes a high-profile case. However, officials insist that continued vigilance remains essential to national security.
