As the U.S. Justice Department readies its case against Ryan Wesley Routh, the man arrested for attempting to shoot and kill President Donald Trump on September 15th, 2024, prosecutors have released a dizzying set of facts revealing how the assassination attempt narrowly avoided becoming much deadlier.
Routh, 59, had previously traveled to Ukraine where he made attempts to ingratiate himself within the ranks of American volunteers. Through his connections, he allegedly attempted to procure weapons of war from Ukrainian authorities while arguing that killing Trump was necessary because he would be “bad for Ukraine” if elected a second time.
One device Routh sought was a rocket launcher-style “Stinger or RPG to take out Trump,” a DOJ filing states.
A month prior to the attempted shooting, Routh “attempt[ed] to acquire anti-aircraft weapons as direct evidence of his assassination attempt. That month, Routh sought to purchase the devices online from an associate Routh believed to be a Ukrainian with access to military weapons,” it goes on.
Routh allegedly then told his weapons connection, “I need equipment so that Trump cannot get reelected.”
The two began a trail of text correspondence, during which Routh placated his contact by stating that such weapons “get lost and destroyed daily,” suggesting the sale could be concealed under the guise of inventory mismanagement.
“The two continued to discuss the possibility of Routh securing a rocket or missile launcher, with Routh sending his associate an image of President Trump’s plane and writing ‘Trump’s plane, he gets on and off daily,'” prosecutors write.
Routh is charged with two firearms offenses, including the elimination of a serial number on the AK-47-style rifle he is said to have dropped outside the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach. President Trump was playing on the fifth hole of the course when Secret Service agents opened fire on Routh, who was crouched along a perimeter fence line but escaped.
Officers later apprehended Routh in a vehicle on I-95.
A letter to “The World” was found in his possession, allegedly explaining his reasons for seeking to kill the president.
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note states.
Cell phone data to be presented in court also purports to show Routh having lied in wait up to 12 hours before President Trump crossed into his line of sight. Prosecutors claim he stalked Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property several times in the months leading up to his assassination attempt.
Evidence to be presented also shows that Routh allegedly had a handwritten list of dates and venues where President Trump would be speaking in the run-up to the November 5th election.
During a search of Routh’s car, investigators stated they found six cell phones, one of which contained “a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.” A court filing states they also found “12 pairs of gloves; a Hawaii Driver’s License in the Defendant’s name; a passport in the Defendant’s name.”
