PROSPECT HEIGHTS — For the second time in two months, Donald Trump was the target of an alleged assassination attempt, according to the FBI, which confirmed it is investigating the incident in which shots were fired in the vicinity of the former president’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Trump, the Republican candidate for president in the Nov. 5 election, was not hurt in the incident, which took place at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach shortly before 2 p.m..
The FBI issued a statement on Sunday confirming that it was investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of Trump.
The U.S. Secret Service opened fire after shots were fired in the vicinity of the golf course and a man with a gun was spotted in the area. The man apparently pushed the muzzle of a gun through a fence and was spotted by agents, who then fired shots, authorities said.
The Secret Service immediately swarmed the former president and removed him to safety in the clubhouse.
The gunman fled the scene in an SUV but was apprehended a short time later by local law police. His name was not immediately released by authorities. An AK-47-style rifle was recovered in the bushes at the scene, along with two backpacks, a scope and a Go-Pro camera, authorities said.
Trump was playing a round of golf and was between the fifth and sixth holes of the golf course when the incident took place.
In a campaign fundraising email to his supporters, Trump addressed the situation. “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first. I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
The former president added, “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!”
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent in the presidential race, were briefed on the incident.
“The president and vice president have been briefed about the security incident at Trump International Golf Course , where the former president was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the White House said in a statement.
The incident took place two months after Trump survived an assassination attempt while on the campaign trail. In that instance, A 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthws Crooks, fired several shots as Trump while he was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump was hit in his right ear. Three people in the crowd were also shot. One of them, Corey Comperatore, later died from wounds.
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