A local sheriff says that a person has been arrested in connection to the incident.
Former President Donald Trump said in an emailed statement that he is safe, after the FBI said that it is investigating a suspected assassination attempt after shots were reported in his vicinity at his Florida golf course.
“The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump,” the FBI said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
A representative of U.S. Secret Service told a news conference Sunday that a Secret Service personnel opened fire on a suspected gunman “located near the property line,” adding it’s under investigation.
Trump sent out an emailed statement confirming that he is “safe and well” more than an hour after his campaign released a brief statement on the incident.
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” he said. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
The Palm Beach sheriff said at the news conference that officials recovered an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks that had “ceramic tile” inside, and a GoPro camera.
The suspect had “a GoPro on the fence there, where he was intent on filming what was going on,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.
Photos shared by law enforcement on Sept. 15 showed what appeared to be two black bags hanging from a fence near the golf course. A firearm was between them and was pointed through a gap in the fence, and the GoPro was hanging to the side.
A Secret Service agent who was stationed near Trump while he was golfing “was able to spot this rifle barrel” and “immediately [engaged] that individual, at which time the individual took off,” he added.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told reporters on the afternoon of Sept. 15 that the suspect was detained as he was driving northbound on I-95, crossing from Palm Beach County into Martin County. Federal investigators are involved, he added.
He said the suspect “was relatively calm” and was “not displaying a lot of emotions,” adding that the car was involved in an accident. The vehicle is now in the custody of the FBI, he said.
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed.
“The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the statement said.
In her own statement Sunday, Harris said that she is “glad he is safe” and that “violence has no place in America.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote on social media platform X that he spoke with the former president after the reported shooting, adding that he is in “good spirits” and is “one of the strongest people” he’s known.
“He is more resolved than ever to save our country,” the senator added.
Just spoke with President Trump. He is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 15, 2024
He’s in good spirits and he is more resolved than ever to save our country. https://t.co/9CWaeFrOpX
The incident comes just two months after a would-be assassin fired multiple shots at Trump as he was speaking at a Pennsylvania rally, with one bullet striking him in the ear. One rallygoer was killed and two others were injured.
The shooting suspect was shot and killed just moments after he fired at the former president. Federal and state law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooter.
The U.S. Secret Service, the West Palm Beach Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and Trump campaign have not responded to requests for comment on Sunday.
Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach is several miles from Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s primary residence.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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