'Suspect Was Hiding With AK-47 & Scope': Sheriff Describes Moment Gunman Was Spotted At Trump Golf Course

After former President Donald Trump narrowly survived yet another assassination bid at his Florida golf course, the local sheriff said that a Secret Service agent had spotted an AK-47-style rifle with a scope poking out of bushes about a hole ahead of where Trump was playing, and engaged the suspect.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that the suspect was about 400 to 500 yards away from Trump and hidden in shrubbery – while the former president played golf on a nearby hole – and had two backpacks hanging on a fence and a GoPro camera.

The incident came nine weeks after Trump survived another attempt on his life. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has started investigating the incident as an ‘attempted assassination,’ said officials.

Amid the confrontation with the Secret Service, the suspect bolted out of the shrubbery he had been hiding in and escaped in a black car. A witness helped police identify the vehicle and authorities tracked it down.

“We have somebody in custody right now that is a potential suspect,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told a news conference.

Officials praised the quick action of the Secret Service, an agency that has been under intense scrutiny since its apparent failure to detect and stop a gunman from shooting at Trump in Pennsylvania.

Soon after reports of the assassination attempt surfaced, the White House issued a statement in which they stated that both US President Joe Biden and Vice President had been briefed on the matter.

“The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the White House said on Sunday.