GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at a West Palm Beach golf course has a criminal record in North Carolina.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, formerly of Greensboro, was allegedly on a Trump-owned golf course with an AK-47, a GoPro camera and other items, concealed in bushes in what officials are calling an assassination attempt. The Secret Service fired at the suspect but did not hit him, and he fled the scene in a car. He was arrested in a traffic stop on I-95.
Routh previously lived in the Greensboro area before moving to Hawaii sometime this year. Neighbors say he and his family moved to Hawaii in May.
Voter records indicate that he was an unaffiliated voter but did vote in the Democratic primary in Guilford County.
Social media posts allegedly belonging to Routh indicate he was a believer in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, and he had posted that he had voted for Trump in 2016 but was disappointed with him after the fact, expressing support for Tulsi Gabbard in various posts.
Suspect identified in 2nd Trump assassination attempt
The North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections has records for Routh going back to 2002. That year, he barricaded himself inside a business with a gun in Greensboro, per the News & Record.
In 2003, he was sentenced for driving without a license, carrying a concealed weapon and hit and run. In 2010 he was convicted of possessing stolen goods.
He was given probation for all of these charges, according to the DAC website.
North Carolina’s eCourts system has records going back to 1997 for charges such as no operator’s license.
Law enforcement has not released any more information in the case.
