Assassination Plot Against Donald Trump Uncovered: Chilling Court Docs Reveal Sniper Plan
Federal prosecutors have revealed disturbing information about a detailed plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, which was allegedly organized by Ryan Wesley Routh, a convicted felon from North Carolina.
In court documents filed on Sunday, the Department of Justice outlined serious charges against Routh, including attempted assassination, illegal possession of firearms, and assaulting a federal officer. Routh, 39, is accused of traveling from North Carolina to South Florida in March 2024 to observe President Trump’s movements, then returning in September with the intent to carry out the attack.
According to the documents, Routh set up a sniper’s hideout near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15, equipped with a military-grade SKS rifle. He was spotted by Secret Service agents and fled the scene before he could carry out the attack. His escape led to a manhunt that ended with his arrest on Interstate 95 in Martin County.
Prosecutors say Routh had been planning this for at least six months. Evidence includes a handwritten letter where he admitted his plan and accepted that he might end up in prison. He also tried to buy powerful weapons, including a .50 caliber sniper rifle and even anti-aircraft missiles, saying in messages that he needed them to stop Trump from being re-elected.
He used burner phones, fake license plates, and kept track of Trump’s travel routes. He also searched the internet for terms like “Trump airplane,” “sniper tactics,” and “escape routes.” He even camped near West Palm Beach for weeks to study the area’s security.
Back in North Carolina, Routh left a box with a friend containing ammunition, parts for a homemade bomb, multiple burner phones, copies of his manifesto, and a manual on how to build explosives. A trailer linked to him also had similar materials.
Prosecutors also mentioned Routh’s past, including a conviction in 2002 for having a weapon of mass destruction (a device made with dynamite). He previously admitted to owning military-style weapons, which shows he had experience with dangerous firearms.
After the attempted attack, Routh tried to escape using stolen license plates and fake names. He also contacted someone in Mexico, possibly to help him flee the country.
Prosecutors say all of this shows Routh wasn’t making empty threats—he had serious intent and had gone to great lengths to prepare. They are asking the court to accept all the evidence they’ve collected. A trial date has not yet been set, but if convicted, Routh could spend the rest of his life in prison.
This case comes at a time of rising political tension in the U.S. and is considered one of the most serious threats against a political figure in over ten years.
