In a shocking revelation, a U.
S. Secret Service (USSS) agent reportedly missed six shots at Ryan Routh, the second alleged would-be assassin of President-elect Donald Trump, from a mere five feet away.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the competence of the USSS, which has been under increased scrutiny following the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
According to The Post Millennial, Routh was apprehended earlier in the fall, after being spotted by the USSS in the bushes of Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, armed with a rifle. The USSS agents fired shots at Routh, who managed to escape, only to be arrested later and charged with the alleged assassination attempt.
A task force report dated September 15 detailed the incident, stating that an agent "riding along the fence line" of the golf course "noticed an individual by the fence line on the external perimeter." The report further elaborated, "The agent first noticed the suspect, later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, and then noticed the barrel of Rouths gun sticking through the fence line. The special agent, who may have been as close as five feet away from Routh, immediately responded by firing shots toward the suspect. It is believed six shots in total were fired; however, final ballistics are pending an ongoing FBI investigation."
Following the shooting, Routh managed to flee to his "pre-positioned vehicle," as per the report. A bystander, who reportedly heard the shots and saw Routh running to his vehicle, managed to capture a photo of Rouths license plate and provided it to one of the Secret Service special agents.
Further details from the congressional report and other sources, including Fox News, revealed that Routh was carrying 18 phones at the time, although he only owned 17 of them. Routh's legal team is reportedly considering an insanity defense. In an attempt to justify his actions, Routh has written 40 letters to various media outlets. Charged with the attempted assassination of Trump, Routh has requested a delay in the case until December 2025.
This incident underscores the need for a thorough review of the USSS's operational protocols and agent training, given the critical importance of their role in ensuring the safety of the nation's leaders. It also raises questions about the mental health system's ability to identify and treat individuals who pose a threat to public safety.
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