Ryan Routh, the individual accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, remained concealed for 12 hours in the shadows, according to court documents.
Prosecutors claim that Ryan Wesley Routh's phone records show he was near the scene at 2 a.m.
According to court documents, the North Carolina contractor accused of plotting to kill former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course on Sunday arrived under the cover of darkness and concealed himself in the brush along the edge for nearly 12 hours.
Federal prosecutors disclosed on Monday that Ryan Wesley Routh was near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach at around 2 a.m.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., an SKS-style rifle was allegedly pointed through the fence by a U.S. Secret Service agent and fired.
According to federal prosecutors, phone pings indicate that he arrived at the tree line at 1:59 a.m. and left around the same time when dispatchers received reports of gunfire.
A Secret Service agent on Trump's security detail saw a rifle poking out of the tree line while walking the perimeter of the golf course.
A witness observed a male suspect, later identified as Routh, escaping in a Nissan SUV after the agent opened fire.
According to court documents, a black Nissan SUV was stopped by deputies from both the Palm Beach and Martin County sheriff's offices on Interstate 95.
Routh was the only person in the car, and when questioned about the reason for the stop, he reportedly confirmed it.
The license plate on Routh's Nissan was found to be registered to a stolen Ford truck.
A bodycam video from Martin County shows that he complied with the deputies' instructions to exit the vehicle and raise his hands above his head.
A loaded SKS-style rifle, equipped with a scope and without a serial number, was recovered by police at the golf course. Additionally, they found two bags, one containing food, and a digital video camera.
Routh, who initially supported Trump in 2016 and later changed his political stance, was a vocal critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
According to the Associated Press, in a self-published book on the topic of Ukraine's war, Routh allegedly wrote a passage aimed at Iran, stating, "You are free to assassinate Trump."
If convicted, Routh could face up to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and up to five years for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Further charges may be added as the investigation continues.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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