A man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen as he heard his guilty verdict.
Ryan Wesley Routh grabbed the writing instrument as he was found guilty on all five counts in a Florida federal courthouse this afternoon, NBC News reported.
His daughter, Sara, screamed as it all unfolded.
‘Dad, don’t hurt yourself,’ she said as US Marshalls and bailiffs rushed to restrain Routh and escort him out of the courtroom.
Routh returned to the courtroom shortly afterward, in handcuffs. He did not have blood on his white shirt and did not appear to have injured himself.
After his proceedings were complete, he was taken out of the room.
‘We love you, dad,’ shouted Routh’s son, Adam.
Routh seemed to wink at his children as he exited.
He was found guilty of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Routh had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He faces life in prison.
Routh hid in bushes as Trump, then the Republican candidate for president,stood at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15, 2024.
A Secret Service agent spotted Routh at the fence line near the sixth hole and fired at him. South fled the scene in a vehicle and was arrested later that afternoon on Interstate 95 in Martin County.
The jury at the Fort Pierce courthouse deliberated for two-and-a-half hours.
Trump rejoiced at the verdict, calling Routh ‘an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him’.
‘Congratulations to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the entire DOJ team on the conviction, in Florida, of the person who attempted an assassination on my life,’ he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
‘The trial was meticulously handled, and I would like to thank the Judge and Jury for their time, professionalism, and patience…
‘I would also like to thank the Secret Service, Department of Florida Law Enforcement, and the wonderful person who spotted him running from the site of the crime, and acted by following him, and getting all information on car type and license plate to the Sheriff’s Office, IMMEDIATELY, which led to his arrest and conviction.’
Trump concluded that it was ‘a very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA’.
Routh has acted erratically before. He laughed and smiled as he walked, shackled, to attend his first court appearance.
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