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Trump suspected of attempted murder to appear in court on gun charges
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Trump suspected of attempted murder to appear in court on gun charges

An undated selfie shows Ryan W. Routh, a suspect identified by news organizations, as the FBI investigates a suspected assassination attempt in Florida on Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump. This image was taken from social media.

Social Media | Via Reuters

The suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump has been charged with two federal firearms crimes.

The man, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, NBC News reported.

The charges were announced Monday morning during Routh’s initial court appearance in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Routh, handcuffed and wearing dark blue jail garb, appeared unconcerned and casual as he sat next to a public defender, NBC reported.

The suspect is due back in court next Monday, September 23, for a bail hearing.

Read more about CNBC’s political coverage

Routh was arrested on Sunday after U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course while the Republican candidate was playing a round of golf.

An officer spotted a rifle with a scope in the bushes and fired multiple shots, causing the person holding the weapon to flee the area in a black Nissan, officials said at a news conference Sunday. Routh was arrested in a neighboring county.

According to authorities, a rifle, two backpacks and a GoPro camera were found at the golf course.

According to NBC, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office is expected to release some of the bodycam footage from Routh’s arrest later on Monday.

Trump was not injured. In a Truth Social In his Sunday evening post, he wrote: “It was certainly an interesting day!”

The incident could be the second attempted assassination on him in two months.

Trump’s ear was struck by a bullet during an earlier assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in July. The gunman in that attack, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed seconds after he opened fire.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said in a statement Sunday that she was glad her Republican rival was safe, adding: “Violence has no place in America.”

President Joe Biden told reporters outside the White House Monday morning that the Secret Service “needs more help.”

This is developing news. Check back for updates.