Federal authorities claim Ryan W. Routh’s cellphone pinged near the golf club at 1:59 a.m. on Sunday.
According to court documents, the mobile device belonging to the individual charged on Monday in connection with a potential assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump was located in close proximity to the golf course where the incident occurred for an extended duration of nearly twelve hours. The records indicate that the cellphone of Ryan W. Routh, the accused, was detected "in the vicinity of the area along the tree line" of the Trump International Golf Club situated in West Palm Beach, Florida, starting at 1:59 a.m. on Sunday, as detailed in a federal criminal complaint submitted on the same day.
On Sunday at approximately 1:31 p.m., a Secret Service agent conducting a patrol around the perimeter of the golf course observed what appeared to be a rifle protruding from the tree line. In response to this sighting, the agent discharged his weapon, prompting the individual believed to be the gunman to flee the scene. The eight-page complaint does not clarify whether the suspect discharged his firearm during the incident, leaving that detail unaddressed.
A witness reported seeing the suspect depart the area in a Nissan sport-utility vehicle, as noted in the complaint. Mr. Routh was apprehended roughly forty-five minutes later on Interstate 95, where he acknowledged to law enforcement officers that he was aware of the reason for his stop. The Nissan was found to be equipped with a stolen license plate. Furthermore, investigators discovered a digital camera and a loaded SKS-style semiautomatic assault rifle, which had its serial number removed, near the chain-link fence where the rifle had initially been observed. The SKS rifle, a Soviet-era firearm developed in the 1940s, has been utilized in various global conflicts and is favored in the United States due to its relatively affordable price, typically ranging in the hundreds of dollars.
During his initial appearance in federal court, Mr. Routh, aged 58, faced charges on Monday related to the unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, as well as the possession of a firearm that had its serial number intentionally removed or obscured. The firearm in question has been forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's laboratory located in Quantico, Virginia, where forensic experts will undertake efforts to recover the serial number. The presence of a partially scratched serial number has complicated the process of tracing the weapon's history and origins, raising concerns about its previous ownership and potential criminal use.
The allegations against Mr. Routh are considered to be somewhat preliminary at this stage. The national security division of the Justice Department, which holds the responsibility for investigating and prosecuting cases involving assassination attempts, is now playing a pivotal role in this matter. According to two law enforcement officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, there is a possibility that additional and more severe charges may be filed against Mr. Routh in the near future, reflecting the evolving nature of the case and the complexities involved.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications of the charges against Mr. Routh could extend beyond the current allegations. The involvement of the national security division suggests that the case may have broader ramifications, potentially linking it to larger issues of public safety and national security. The authorities are likely to conduct a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the firearm's possession and any connections to other criminal activities, which may ultimately influence the direction of the prosecution and the legal proceedings that follow.
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