Gunshots were reported in Donald Trump’s vicinity on Sunday afternoon, September 15, at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The former president is safe.
It was not immediately clear whether the reported shots were targeted at the Republican presidential nominee. The US Secret Service said it was investigating and that the incident occurred shortly before 2 pm. "The former president is safe," according to the Secret Service. Roughly two months ago, Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post on Sunday that it has stopped a vehicle on northbound Interstate 95 and taken a suspect into custody who is believed to be connected to the shooting. The sheriff’s office said it made the stop after authorities in neighboring Palm Beach County put out a "be on the lookout" alert. Photos included in the post showed an SUV stopped behind multiple law enforcement vehicles.
The post by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office indicated the suspect was apprehended near Palm City, Florida, about a 45-mile drive north of Trump’s golf course. Northbound lanes of I-95 were shut down, the sheriff’s office said.
US Secret Service agents opened fire after seeing a person with a firearm near Donald Trump’s golf club while the Republican presidential candidate was golfing Sunday, according to two law enforcement officials. No injuries were reported.
The person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended in a nearby county by local law enforcement, the officials said. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity about an ongoing investigation. The incident comes roughly two months after an assassination attempt on Trump’s life at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
In an X post, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s top congressional allies, said he had spoken with Trump after the incident and that Trump was in "good spirits" and was "one of the strongest people I’ve ever known."
Trump often spends the morning playing golf before having lunch at the Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach, one of three he owns in the state.
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation. The White House added they are "relieved" to know Trump is safe.
A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation said officials were trying to determine whether the shots were fired near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course or on the grounds. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
An AK-style firearm was recovered at the scene near Trump’s golf course, two law enforcement officials said. Again, the officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly about an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.