Breaking News: Attempted Shooting at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach, FL — In a chilling incident this afternoon, shots were fired at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach. The incident took place at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 15th, 2024, prompting an immediate response from Secret Service agents stationed nearby.

According to eyewitnesses, a man emerged from nearby bushes and fled the scene in a black Nissan. A bystander managed to capture an image of the vehicle and its license plate, which was quickly relayed to authorities. Real-time crime centers dispatched the information to license plate readers, leading to a swift breakthrough. The vehicle was located on I-95 heading into Martin County.

Law enforcement, including the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, quickly intercepted the suspect’s vehicle, pulling it over and detaining the individual. The witness who had captured the image positively identified the detained man as the shooter.

Authorities later uncovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks lined with ceramic tile, and a GoPro camera in the bushes near where the shooter was stationed. These items are currently being processed as evidence, with investigators scouring through the details to determine the motivation behind the attack.

Fortunately, Donald Trump was unharmed in the incident. Secret Service agents on-site responded swiftly, with one agent reportedly spotting the shooter from a position just one hole ahead of the former president on the golf course.

As of now, charges against the suspect have not been officially determined, but further details on the shooter’s background are expected to emerge soon. The FBI has taken over as the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation, deploying a crisis response team, bomb technicians, and evidence response units to assess the situation.

For now, the public is restricted from accessing the golf course while the investigation is ongoing. The FBI is urging anyone with further information to contact their tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit details through their website at tips.fbi.gov.

This developing story will continue to unfold as authorities release more information about the suspect and their potential motives.

Stay tuned for updates.

This information was provided by Miami Field Office FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Veltri, and Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw at today's live press conference. Video Content Provided by Associated Press