Timeline of 2nd Trump assassination attempt and key question on how gunman knew Trump would be on the course

Donald Trump has survived a second suspected assassination attempt from a man identified as Ryan Wesley Routh. He was seen on Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida when the gunman stuck the barrel of a rifle through a chain-link fence that surrounded the golf course. One question remains in the aftermath: how did the suspected would-be assassin know Trump would be playing golf that day? 

According to the Daily Mail, the timeline began with Secret Service agents seeing the barrel stick out from the fence. They soon realized that the GOP nominee, around 300-500 yards away, was in immediate danger. The gun that was recovered was an AK-style rifle with a scope.

The suspect in the reported assassination attempt was identified as registered Democrat Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man who frequently posted pro-Ukrainian messaging on his social media accounts and had written about supporting the assassination of Trump before. 

Charlie Kirk said on Sunday, "President Trump's round of golf was NOT on any public schedule. How did the suspect know Trump was golfing there today? How did he get a semi-automatic rifle so close to the president?"

The timeline of the events started in the early afternoon on Sunday:

At around 1:30 pm on Sept. 15, the West Palm Beach Police Department was notified about shots fired by USSS agents on the scene of the International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was playing a round of golf that day. West Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told the press during a press conference that the USSS agents spotted the rile a few holes in front of the president. The agents "immediately engaged" with the shooter, who then retreated, Bradshaw said.  

Trump was rushed to safety as the shots rang out from the arms of the USSS agents. It is unclear if Routh fired off any shots.  

From around 1:40 pm to 2:00 pm, the first details of the shooting emerged. Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheug said of the incident: "President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time." The GOP nominee also issued a statement himself, telling his supporters to "never surrender."

"There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I am safe and well," Trump wrote in a communications alert.  

"Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER!" The same message has been at the forefront of his campaign since the GOP nominee was nearly assassinated in July at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally.  

At 3:49 pm, Vice President Kamala Harris broke her silence about the suspected assassination attempt. She wrote online, "I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe," adding, "Violence has no place in America." The White House issued a similar statement as well.  

At around 4:29 pm to 4:32 pm, Routh was taken into custody. He had fled to his vehicle after USSS agents engaged and was driving in a neighboring county when he was caught and taken into custody by police.

Martin County Sheriff William Synder said of the arrest, "He never asked, 'What is this about?' Obviously, law enforcement with long rifles, blue lights, a lot going on. He never questioned it." 

About 10 minutes later at 4:42 pm, the FBI announced it was investigating "what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump." 

At 4:43 pm, Trump arrived back home to the Mar-a-Lago estate, according to the report from the Mail.  

5:17 pm to 5:18 pm was when Sheriff Bradshaw said that Trump's golf course was surrounded by shrubbery, making it difficult to spot the suspect. Bradshaw added at the time that law enforcement found an AK-style rifle with a scope, a GoPro camera, and two backpacks hanging from a fence where the gunman had been spotted earlier. 

Bradshaw commented that when Routh fled, a witness was able to snap a picture of his vehicle, allowing for law enforcement to track the car and ultimately arrest Routh.  

At 5:24 pm, a state attorney for Palm Beach County, Dave Aronberg, informed reporters that prosecutors were getting a warrant as well as a pre-trial application for Routh.  

"Our filing of the warrant and charges at the state level does not preclude the federal charges that could be coming," he said. "But in the meantime, it looks like the warrants and a pretrial detention motion will happen first." 

At 5:30 pm, JD Vance said that Trump was in "good spirits" after the suspected assassination attempt, this being the second in just a few months.  

"I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits," Vance wrote. "Still much we don't know, but I'll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude." 

Around 5:40 pm, Sheriff Bradshaw remarked to the press that if Trump was the sitting president, law enforcement would have lined his whole golf course with security. However, he added, because he is not the sitting president, "security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible." 

He claimed, "Secret Service did exactly what they should have done, they provided exactly what the protection should have been and their agent did a fantastic job." 

Routh was identified as the suspect who allegedly tried to take the life of the GOP nominee on the golf course at 6:03 pm on Sunday.  

15 minutes later at 6:18 pm, Tim Walz announced on X that he was glad Trump is "safe" after the incident.  

"Gwen and I are glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe. Violence has no place in our country. It’s not who we are as a nation," he posted.  

At 6:27 pm, GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik issued a statement about the apparent assassination attempt.  

"I am grateful to hear that President Trump is safe following today's reported assassination attempt in Florida. I join in thanks for our hardworking law enforcement officers working to keep President Trump, his family, and his team safe." 

Commenting on the July assassination attempt, Stefanik added, "There continues to be a lack of answers for the horrific assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and we expect there to be a clear explanation of what happened today in Florida." 

At 7:24 pm, the Trump campaign leaders credited USSS for protecting Trump from the would-be assassination of the GOP nominee. Campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote in an email, "Thankfully, no one was injured at the Golf Course. President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service." 

At 8:31 pm later that evening, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that Florida would be conducting its own investigation of the reported assassination attempt on Trump, saying that "people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee." 

President Joe Biden made his statement on the apparent assassination attempt at 8:50 pm, saying that he is glad Trump is safe, adding, "A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe."