Ryan Routh, the person accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on the president-elect’s golf membership in Florida, is now going through a state tried homicide cost in reference to a automobile accident that occurred following his arrest, officers introduced Wednesday.
The Florida Legal professional Common’s Workplace mentioned it has obtained an arrest warrant in opposition to Routh, who was apprehended on Interstate 95 in Martin County on Sept. 15 after he allegedly fled the Trump Worldwide Golf Membership in West Palm Seashore, authorities mentioned.
Following his arrest, an accident occurred that critically injured a 6-year-old woman who was touring along with her household, based on Florida Legal professional Common Ashley Moody.
“On account of that, we felt compelled to hunt justice on her behalf and her household that may by no means be the identical as they cope along with her accidents,” Moody mentioned at a press briefing on Wednesday.
The multi-vehicle accident occurred on I-95 roughly three or 4 miles south of the place Routh’s visitors cease occurred, based on the arrest warrant affidavit.
Legislation enforcement officers arrest Ryan Routh, the person suspected within the obvious assassination try of Donald Trump, Sept. 15, 2024.
Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace through AP
A Martin County deputy positioned the suspect’s automobile at roughly 2:09 p.m. It was unclear if any autos or explosives have been within the automobile, and northbound visitors was stopped as a result of “high-risk potential” of the visitors cease, based on the affidavit. Routh was taken into custody at roughly 2:23 p.m., based on the affidavit.
Southbound visitors was additionally stopped whereas authorities labored to clear Routh’s automobile, and visitors started to again up in each instructions for miles, based on the affidavit.
The accident occurred at roughly 3 p.m., based on the affidavit. The kid, whose title has not been launched, suffered essential accidents after a automobile rear-ended the one she and her household have been touring in, based on the affidavit.
“Once you couple these horrible accidents along with [Routh’s] different felony conduct, which we consider rises to the extent of home terrorism, it turns his actions into an tried felony homicide case,” Moody mentioned.
Moody mentioned her workplace has filed a grievance and arrest warrant in opposition to Routh on Wednesday. The cost carries a sentence of as much as life in jail if convicted.
Moody mentioned her workplace had reached out to the federal authorities relating to pursuing the tried homicide cost in opposition to Routh.
“They responded that we must always not deliver expenses,” she mentioned. “The excuse and the reasoning stored coming again to the necessity to defend the case and nationwide safety.”
FBI investigators are proven at Trump Worldwide Golf Membership in West Palm Seashore, Florida, Sept. 16, 2024.
Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Solar Sentinel/Tribune Information Service through Getty Photographs
Moody filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Division of Justice in October claiming the company was unlawfully trying to dam Florida’s felony investigation into the alleged assassination try in opposition to Trump.
ABC Information has reached out to the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of Florida, which is prosecuting the federal case in opposition to Routh, for remark.
Routh faces a number of federal expenses in reference to the alleged tried assassination.
Donald Trump speaks throughout a information convention at Mar-a-Lago, Dec. 16, 2024, in Palm Seashore, Fla.
Evan Vucci/AP
On the day in query, Trump was taking part in golf on the course when a Secret Service agent noticed a gun barrel poking out from the tree line close to the sixth inexperienced, based on investigators.
The agent then fired within the route of the rifle and noticed Routh fleeing the realm and coming into his close by automobile, based on the federal felony grievance.
Within the space of the tree line the place the suspect was seen, brokers discovered a digital digicam, two baggage, together with a backpack, and a loaded SKS-style 7.62×39 caliber rifle with a scope, based on the grievance.
Trump was not harmed within the incident and was taken to a secure location by Secret Service brokers.
Routh pleaded not responsible to federal expenses together with tried assassination of a significant presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer, in addition to a number of firearms expenses.
He’s presently in federal custody.
