The man who was accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in Florida last year, Ryan Routh, was convicted Tuesday on charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
Routh attempted to assassinate the president at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024. US Secret Service Agent Robert Fercano was patrolling the golf course when he spotted Routh hiding behind a fence. Fercano, fearing for the safety of the president, opened fire at Routh, who fled the area. Law enforcement discovered a weapon, ammunition, steel armor plates, and a camera mounted on the fence facing the course where Routh had been spotted. A witness testified at trial that a box was left at his residence in April by Routh. The box included a handwritten letter addressed to the world from Routh, which stated, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.” He then proceeded to offer $150,000 to anyone who could “complete the job.”
The jury convicted Routh of five total crimes, including:
- attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;
- possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment;
- assaulting a federal officer, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison;
- felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison;
- possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
President Trump was injured in an attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, just two months before Routh’s own attempt. The shooter in that instance, Thomas Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service agent on scene.
Routh will be sentenced on December 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
