Ryan Wesley Routh’s shocked neighbor claims everyone was afraid of him before Trump golf course assassination attempt

 

 

Neighbors of the man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf club described him as ‘a little cuckoo’, and claim he left everyone on the street terrified.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is in custody after he allegedly pointed an AK-47 at the former president as he played at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach on Sunday afternoon.

The suspect was found unarmed while a backpack, GoPro camera and AK-47 style rifle were discovered at the scene once he fled.

His home in North Carolina was raided late Sunday night and a pickup truck with a Biden-Harris bumper sticker was found outside his Hawaii home.

A woman who lived next door to Routh in North Carolina described the registered Democrat as unusual and revealed she was not shocked to learn that guns were involved.

‘I mean I didn’t think he would go that far. I knew he was a little cuckoo, but assassinating the president? I mean he’s going to be going away for a long time,’ the anonymous neighbor told Fox 8.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is in custody after he allegedly pointed an AK-47 at the former president while he was playing golf on Sunday

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is in custody after he allegedly pointed an AK-47 at the former president while he was playing golf on Sunday

Routh has a Biden-Harris sticker on a white pickup truck sitting in the driveway of his Hawaii home

Routh has a Biden-Harris sticker on a white pickup truck sitting in the driveway of his Hawaii home

A neighbor described the registered Democrat as unusual and was not shocked to learn that guns were involved

A neighbor described the registered Democrat as unusual and was not shocked to learn that guns were involved

 

She added: ‘I just can’t believe it. I mean, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I mean the pictures and stuff and all, then I wouldn’t be able to believe that.’

The concerned neighbor said she has seen guns in his home over the years but never expected him to be involved in something like this.

‘I’ve seen the guns myself and all, and, yeah, they had a lot of guns and stuff over there, and, yeah, a lot of people were afraid of him back in the day,’ the woman said.

‘I thought he was just living the life in Hawaii with the girlfriend and all, so for him to be assassinating the president, that’s just crazy.’

Her comments come as photos show a Biden-Harris sticker on a white pickup truck sitting in the driveway of Routh’s Hawaii home.

His son, Oran Routh, said his father moved to Hawaii from North Carolina a few years back and was living with his longtime girlfriend.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Oran claimed his dad is not a violent person and couldn’t believe his father would target the president.

‘This was the first I heard about it,’ the 35-year-old said upon realizing his dad’s involvement. ‘Was my father shot or injured?’

He said his father hates Trump as ‘every reasonable person does’, adding ‘I don’t like Trump either.’

Oran said: ‘He’s my dad and all he’s had is couple traffic tickets, as far as I know. That’s crazy. I know my dad and love my dad, but that’s nothing like him.

‘He said he was at the beach, but I thought that meant the outer banks in Hawaii. I didn’t ask him for more information because we’ve had a falling out. We’ve grown apart.’

He wouldn’t explain the nature of their ‘falling out,’ but still spoke highly of his father.

‘He’s not a violent person,’ he said. ‘He’s a hard worker and a great dad. He’s a great dude, a nice guy and has worked his whole f**king life.’

For the second time in just over two months, someone had come dangerously close to killing the 45th president of the United States

Routh ran into his vehicle from the trees, but was spotted by a witness who snapped a picture of his vehicle

Routh ran into his vehicle from the trees, but was spotted by a witness who snapped a picture of his vehicle

A woman who lived next door to Routh in North Carolina described him as 'a little cuckoo'

A woman who lived next door to Routh in North Carolina described him as ‘a little cuckoo’

Trump was rushed to safety on Sunday after multiple shots were fired in his vicinity while he was playing golf at his club in West Palm Beach

Trump was rushed to safety on Sunday after multiple shots were fired in his vicinity while he was playing golf at his club in West Palm Beach

The former president was rushed to safety on Sunday once his security detail fired multiple shots in his vicinity upon noticing Routh’s gun.

Officials said U.S. Secret Service agents spotted a rifle barrel sticking out of the bushes two holes ahead of where Trump was golfing.

Routh ran into his vehicle from the trees, but was spotted by a witness who snapped a picture of his vehicle – a black Nissan – which included the license plate.

Real estate investor and New York City landlord Steve Witkoff was Trump’s golfing buddy on Sunday, sources told DailyMail.com.

Martin County Sherriff William D. Snyder said Routh ‘was not displaying a lot of emotions’ when police arrested him.

Snyder added that the suspected shooter was ‘relatively calm’ and ‘never asked’ why he was being detained.

Routh was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, per online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records but could not provide details about the case.

He is a registered Democrat and donated at least 19 times between September 2019 and March 2020 to the Democratic political action committee ActBlue, Federal Election Commission filings revealed.

The donations totaled more than $140 and were earmarked for individual 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidates including Andrew Yang, Tom Steyer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Routh, a registered Democrat, was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction

Routh, a registered Democrat, was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction

Images revealed the backpack, GoPro camera and AK-47 style rifle that the gunman left behind

Images revealed the backpack, GoPro camera and AK-47 style rifle that the gunman left behind

 

Routh’s social media was filed with anti-Trump rhetoric and previously said that ‘Democracy is on the ballot,’ reported The New York Post.

His posts on his now-deactivated Facebook and X accounts paint a picture of a man radicalized about both Trump and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Routh admitted on social media in June 2020 that he did vote for Trump in 2016, but was hoping as president he would be ‘different and better’ than how he was as a candidate.

‘We all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving; are you retarded,’ Routh wrote at the time. ‘I will be glad when you gone (sic).’

The incident comes as Trump’s security detail has been ramped up in the two months after the former president was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.

Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that the Secret Service had a ‘limited’ ability to protect Trump at the golf course.

‘The golf course is surrounded by shrubbery, so when somebody gets into the shrubbery, they’re pretty much out of sight, all right, and at this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president,’ Bradshaw said.

‘If he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded. But because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible.

‘So, I would imagine that the next time he comes to the golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done.’

Authorities searched Routh's North Carolina home after he was taken into custody for a suspected assassination attempt

Authorities searched Routh’s North Carolina home after he was taken into custody for a suspected assassination attempt

He donated 19 times between September 2019 and March 2020 totaling over $140 to the Democratic political action committee ActBlue

He donated 19 times between September 2019 and March 2020 totaling over $140 to the Democratic political action committee ActBlue

Special Agent Rafael Barros explained at the press conference on Sunday that Secret Service moves with Trump and is usually surveying one or two holes ahead of him when he goes for a round of golf.

Just hours after the incident, the Republican presidential nominee shared his intriguing take about the ‘interesting day’ on Truth Social and praised the Secret Service and authorities for their ‘incredible job’.

‘I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day!

‘Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE.

‘THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!’ Trump wrote.

Vice President Kamala Harris also shared her reaction online, writing: ‘I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.’

Trump thanked law enforcement for their efforts. He was seen later Sunday with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

Trump thanked law enforcement for their efforts. He was seen later Sunday with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

Her comments came before President Joe Biden’s, who issued a statement to say he was ‘relieved’ to hear Trump emerged unscathed.

‘I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today.

‘A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed.’

He reiterated his stance on violence has no place in America.

‘As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,’ he added.