Martin County deputies detain suspect in assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Course
MARTIN COUNTY — Northbound Interstate 95 at State Road 714 reopened and traffic was flowing about 5 p.m. Sunday after a suspect believed to be connected to 'an apparent assassination attempt' of former President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach was stopped and taken into custody by Martin County sheriff's deputies.
Trump is safe, according to his campaign just before 2 p.m. Sunday. Trump was playing golf at the time, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw in a news conference Sunday evening.
He said the Secret Service fired their weapons, during what the FBI called 'an apparent assassination attempt' of Trump. He said it was not known at the time if the suspect fired a weapon.
Bradshaw said a witness on the golf course noticed someone run from the bushes and jump into a black Nissan.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office put out an "urgent be-on-the-lookout' for the vehicle, he said, and Martin County deputies intercepted the suspect near State Road 714 on I-95. The vehicle was described as a black, mid-size SUV.
Once detained, Martin County deputies held the man until the FBI and Secret Service arrived and took him away. While detained, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Bomb Unit inspected the vehicle for explosives, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said.
"He picked the wrong county to drive through if he was planning on getting away," Snyder said.
As a result of the slow-down on I-95 a crash happened, and a mother and child were flown to a hospital, Bradshaw said. Snyder had no further information on the crash.
Bradshaw said a backpack, AK-47-style rifle and a GoPro camera were found in the bushes at the golf club. At the time, Trump was golfing and guarded by Secret Service.
The Secret Service along with the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office are investigating, according to Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the U.S. Secret Service.
This is the second assassination attempt against the former president. In July, at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump was shot in the ear, while one rally-goer was killed and two others wounded.
Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.