Ryan Routh, the person accused of making an attempt 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 automotive accident that occurred following his arrest, officers introduced Wednesday.
The Florida Lawyer Normal’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 Seaside, authorities mentioned.
Following his arrest, an accident occurred that critically injured a 6-year-old lady who was touring together with her household, in keeping with Florida Lawyer Normal Ashley Moody.
“Because 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 together 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, in keeping with the arrest warrant affidavit.
Regulation 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 car at roughly 2:09 p.m. It was unclear if any autos or explosives have been within the car, and northbound visitors was stopped as a result of “high-risk potential” of the visitors cease, in keeping with the affidavit. Routh was taken into custody at roughly 2:23 p.m., in keeping with the affidavit.
Southbound visitors was additionally stopped whereas authorities labored to clear Routh’s car, and visitors started to again up in each instructions for miles, in keeping with the affidavit.
The accident occurred at roughly 3 p.m., in keeping with the affidavit. The kid, whose identify has not been launched, suffered important accidents after a car rear-ended the one she and her household have been touring in, in keeping with the affidavit.
“While you couple these horrible accidents along with [Routh’s] different legal conduct, which we imagine 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 criticism 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 concerning pursuing the tried homicide cost in opposition to Routh.
“They responded that we should always not convey costs,” she mentioned. “The excuse and the reasoning stored coming again to the necessity to shield the case and nationwide safety.”
FBI investigators are proven at Trump Worldwide Golf Membership in West Palm Seaside, 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 making an attempt to dam Florida’s legal investigation into the alleged assassination try in opposition to Trump.
ABC Information has reached out to the U.S. Lawyer’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 costs in reference to the alleged tried assassination.
Donald Trump speaks throughout a information convention at Mar-a-Lago, Dec. 16, 2024, in Palm Seaside, Fla.
Evan Vucci/AP
On the day in query, Trump was enjoying golf on the course when a Secret Service agent noticed a gun barrel poking out from the tree line close to the sixth inexperienced, in keeping with investigators.
The agent then fired within the course of the rifle and noticed Routh fleeing the realm and getting into his close by car, in keeping with the federal legal criticism.
Within the space of the tree line the place the suspect was seen, brokers discovered a digital digital camera, two luggage, together with a backpack, and a loaded SKS-style 7.62×39 caliber rifle with a scope, in keeping with the criticism.
Trump was not harmed within the incident and was taken to a secure location by Secret Service brokers.
Routh pleaded not responsible to federal costs together with tried assassination of a serious presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer, in addition to a number of firearms costs.
He’s presently in federal custody.
ABC Information’ Benjamin Stein contributed to this report.
