Who is Ryan Wesley Routh, suspect in Trump assassination attempt?

Ryan Wesley Routh has recently been identified as a suspect in a serious incident involving Donald Trump, a prominent figure in American politics. This event occurred in Florida, where it appears that Mr. Routh attempted to carry out an assassination against Mr. Trump. At 58 years old, Mr. Routh hails from North Carolina but has been residing in Hawaii for some time. His political views seem to be quite mixed, and he has shown a strong interest in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, he has a history of legal troubles that paint a complicated picture of his character. According to reports, Mr. Routh is suspected of visiting the Trump International Golf Course in Florida, armed with an AK-47-style rifle. The FBI was able to recover the weapon, along with two backpacks and a GoPro camera that Mr. Routh had hidden in the bushes. Although he managed to escape in his vehicle, a witness spotted him and took a photograph of the black Nissan he was driving. This led to an urgent alert being issued for his car. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that two officers located Mr. Routh's vehicle approximately 45 minutes after the gun was seen at the golf course and began to follow it. Eventually, he was stopped on Interstate 95 and taken into custody. Police reported that Mr. Routh left behind a weapon and other items at the scene of the attempted assassination. Mr. Routh's social media presence reveals a lot about his beliefs and motivations. BBC Verify has discovered profiles that match his name, showing that he called for foreign fighters to join the battle in Ukraine against Russian forces. In one post on X, he stated, 'I am coming to Ukraine from Hawaii to fight for your kids and families and democracy. I will come and die for you. ' His social media also contains messages that support Palestine and Taiwan, as well as accusations against China regarding 'biological warfare' and references to the Covid-19 virus as an 'attack. ' Interestingly, Mr. Routh once supported President Trump, stating in a post that he was 'my choice in 2016,' but later expressed disappointment, saying he was 'getting worse and devolving. ' He has also urged President Biden and Vice-President Harris to meet with victims of a shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, which occurred during another assassination attempt on Trump in July. Mr. Routh's connection to Ukraine is significant. In a 2023 interview with the New York Times, he expressed his desire to assist in the war effort and mentioned that he was trying to recruit Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban. He claimed that dozens of soldiers were interested in joining him and that he planned to move them from Pakistan and Iran to Ukraine, sometimes through illegal means. He stated, 'We can probably purchase some passports through Pakistan, since it’s such a corrupt country. ' At that time, he also mentioned being in Washington to meet with the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to advocate for more support for Ukraine. His recruitment efforts seem to have continued as recently as July, when he posted on Facebook asking soldiers not to contact him yet, as he was still trying to get Ukraine to accept Afghan soldiers. The International Legion of foreign volunteers in Ukraine has denied any connection to him, and other Ukrainian officials have distanced themselves from his actions. President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned political violence, emphasizing that 'Playing with fire has its consequences. ' Mr. Routh's legal history is quite extensive. Records indicate that his legal troubles date back to the 1990s, including minor charges such as writing bad checks. He faced multiple felony charges in Guilford County, North Carolina, between 2002 and 2010. In 2002, he was charged with possession of a fully automatic machine gun, which was described in court documents as a 'weapon of mass destruction. ' Other charges against him include misdemeanors like hit-and-run, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon. He has also faced charges for driving with a revoked license and possession of stolen property. A former neighbor, Kim Mungo, described Mr. Routh as a 'sweetheart' but mentioned that federal agents once raided his property, alleging that he kept 'loads of stolen property and stuff' at his home. She also noted that she had seen him and his family firing guns in the open. Politically, Mr. Routh has a complicated affiliation. Reports indicate that he voted for the Democratic Party during the 2024 primary in North Carolina, despite being registered as an unaffiliated voter. His social media posts suggest that he once supported Trump but later became disillusioned. Mr. Routh's family has spoken about him, with his son describing him as 'a loving and caring father, and an honest hardworking man. ' His eldest son, Oran, expressed concern over the situation in Florida, hoping that it is not as serious as it seems. Currently, Mr. Routh remains in custody, and no formal charges have been filed against him yet. He is expected to appear before a judge soon. It remains unclear whether he actually fired his weapon during the incident. The FBI has launched an investigation and is collaborating with local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, agents from the Secret Service and Homeland Security have searched Mr. Routh's former residence in Greensboro, North Carolina.