After his attempt to elude police led to a car accident that gravely injured a 6-year-old girl, prosecutors have filed new attempted murder charges against a man who is suspected of trying to kill Donald Trump at his Palm Beach golf estate.
According to a news release issued by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was charged with state felonies on Tuesday.
The new accusation, according to Moody, is related to Routh’s enumerated felony of domestic terrorism, which left a 6-year-old girl gravely injured and at risk of death. Officials said the maximum penalty for the charge is life in jail.
My heart aches for the child and her family, and we will work just as hard to make sure Mr. Routh is held accountable for the tragedy his criminal activities caused this Florida family, even as we continue to pursue justice for President Trump, Moody said.
The federal government has previously charged Routh with assaulting a federal officer, attempting to kill a prominent presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition, and having a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He might spend the rest of his life behind bars if found guilty on the charges.
Moody, who filed a federal lawsuit on October 23, took advantage of the state charges to attack the federal government’s probe into the assassination attempt.
Even though the federal government obstructed our efforts, which we are still contesting in court, we discovered that a 6-year-old girl suffered catastrophic damage as a result of Mr. Routh’s activities, she told us.
Routh is charged with trying to kill Trump as he was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15.
In the undergrowth along a fence line close to the sixth hole, a US Secret Service agent on a security sweep found the partially hidden face of a guy who would eventually be identified as Routh. The spy saw that a rifle barrel was aimed straight at him.
Prosecutors claim the agent saw the gun barrel move as Routh backed away and fired at him.
Prosecutors claim that Routh escaped in a black Nissan Xterra after running across a road.
On the southeast corner of the golf club, close to where the suspect was purportedly sighted, investigators found a sniper’s nest in the thick vegetation that borders the golf course. Officials reported finding an SKS semi-automatic weapon in the nest, lying against a fence.
Due to the high-risk traffic stop, Interstate 95 was closed when deputies saw the Xterra traveling north.
Routh was arrested and told to exit his car with his hands up when traffic stopped. Authorities also used a K-9 explosives detection system to search his car.
While investigating the freeway, a chain-reaction crash happened a few miles distant. Unaware of the traffic backed up ahead, a driver struck the car in front of her, sparking a chain reaction. The driver later told a trooper she was looking down for her water bottle.
In one car, a 6-year-old girl suffered significant injuries. While waiting for responders, her mother tried to brace her daughter’s neck after telling a 911 dispatcher that she couldn’t tell if she was breathing.
Eventually, the sound of choking or gagging can be heard on the recording, the affidavit read.
According to the affidavit, paramedics arrived, cut her out of her seat belt, and transported her to the hospital, where she was listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Routh s actions were the cause of a horrific car crash that severely injured the minor child, Routh s intentional act of escaping the scene of his attempted act of terrorism could have easily resulted in the death of [redacted], but fortunately did not, according to the witness statement.
Trump has been the victim of two claimed assassination attempts in three months, including the one in Palm Beach. In July, he was grazed by a bullet fired by a shooter on a roof during a rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter in that incident was killed by police.
Routh is scheduled to appear in court for the federal case on February 10. The case is presided over by US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who dismissed the former president s Mar-a-Lago classified documents prosecution. She declined to recuse herself from presiding over Routh s case.
RESOURCE
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.