AK-47, GoPro, suspect with anti-Russia stance: What we know so far about Donald Trump’s 2nd shooting ahead of US polls

Ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections, former US President Donald Trump has faced two assassination attempts within two months. The Republican presidential nominee was an apparent target of a would-be assassin while playing golf in Florida on Sunday, September 15. The second case of political violence has come as a great shock, evoking sharp reactions from President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican leaders, and celebrities like Elon Musk.

The suspect, Ryan Routh, was arrested after he fled the crime spot, leaving behind his AK-47-style rifle and GoPro camera. The 55-year-old suspected gunman was found to have a strong anti-Russia stance due to the Ukraine war, reported Bloomberg, citing a CNN news report. 

US President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris have condemned the attack and maintained that there is no ‘place for violence’ in America.

The US Secret Service confirmed one or more of its agents "opened fire on a gunman" located near the boundary of Trump's golf course, and that an "AK-47 style rifle" with a scope was recovered along with a GoPro video camera. Here are top updates Donald Trump second assassination attempt.

Donald Trump Assassination attempt: What we know so far?

-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was playing golf in Florida when Secret Service agents spotted and fired on a gunman in bushes near the property line of the golf course on Sunday.

-The suspected shooter, being named as Ryan Routh by several media outlets, was a few hundred yards from where Trump was playing, law enforcement officials said. The suspect left an AK-47-style assault rifle and other items at the scene and fled in a vehicle but was later arrested.

-Months ago, Donald Trump was shot by a teenager at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. During the attack,Trump sustained a minor injury to his right ear.

-According to a Bloomberg report based on CNN information, Ryan Routh's purported social media account contained multiple posts condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including messages calling for foreign soldiers to defend Ukraine. The profile has since been suspended.

-Elon Musk reacted to the second assassination attempt against Donald Trump and wondered why there has been no attempt to assassinate US President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris. Tech billionaire, who is also a vocal advocate of Trump wrote in a post on X, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.”

-Donald Trump's family members, including his son, Eric Trump expressed concern about the apparent second assassination bid at the former US President. In a conversation with Fox News, Eric Trump said, "My father is running out of lives here.”

-Expressing relief over the safety of Donald Trump, the Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance said that he spoke to Trump before the news was made public.

“I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits. Still much we don't know, but I'll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude,” JD Vance wrote in a post on X.