Would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh tried to get ‘stinger’ missile from Ukraine, planned to run to Mexico after attempt: court documents

The DOJ has filed a motion to admit evidence in the case, which read that the pieces of evidence are "not extrinsic evidence but instead are intrinsic evidence 'inextricably intertwined' with the charged offenses, if not direct evidence of Routh’s crimes."

Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024, after Secret Service agents allegedly saw him pointing a rifle in the direction of Trump when the president was on his golf course in Florida. Routh reportedly waited for 12 hours to target Trump and fled when Secret Service agents fired upon him. He was later arrested after being pulled over while driving in his car. He has pled not guilty to five different charges in connection to the alleged assassination attempt.

Along with other materials, the DOJ requested to admit evidence supporting that Routh had allegedly attempted "to acquire anti-aircraft weapons as direct evidence of his assassination attempt" in August 2024.

"Routh sought to purchase the devices online from an associate Routh believed to be a Ukrainian with access to military weapons. The two had discussed the July 2024 attempt to assassinate President Trump that occurred in Pennsylvania, with Routh writing 'I wish' via encrypted messaging app, before the two began discussing Routh’s purchase of a weapon in August," the court filing read.

"To that end, Routh told his associate to 'send me an rpg [rocket propelled grenade] or stinger and I will see what we can do… [Trump] is not good for Ukraine,' which led the two to discuss Routh’s purchase options, with Routh asking about the price and whether his associate could 'ship it to me????' before then explaining his intent: 'I need equipment so that Trump cannot get elected,'" the filing added.

In addition to the evidence regarding the weapons, the DOJ’s filing said there was evidence suggesting that Routh had planned his escape to Mexico after the alleged assassination attempt.

The filing said that after he connected with a human smuggler out of Mexico earlier in 2024, he connected with the smuggler, named “Ramiro,” before his alleged assassination attempt.

“On September 13th and 14th, the two days before Routh set up his sniper hide at Trump International ... Routh told Ramiro that he would be in Mexico City in the days immediately after September 15, with Ramiro responding that he would see Routh then and that he was located four hours outside of Mexico City,” the filing read.

Routh’s trial is scheduled for September 8, 2025. The charges against him include the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer (a Secret Service Agent), felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

DOJ Motion Ryan Routh Case on Scribd