The federal trial of Ryan Routh, who faces charges for allegedly attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in September 2024, is gripping public attention as it unfolds in Fort Pierce, Florida. The courtroom is closed to electronics, but Fox News Digital offers real-time updates, capturing key moments as they happen.
The government’s case kicked off with Special Agent Robert Fercano, the first witness to take the stand. Fercano recounted a tense moment at Trump International Golf Course, where on September 15, 2024, he encountered Routh. Positioned on the sixth hole and keeping an eye on Trump as he played the fifth, Fercano spotted troubling signs, describing “several abnormalities on the fence line.” He spotted what appeared to be “a face, a barrel of a weapon and plates, like Humvee plates.” This initial observation set off alarm bells for Fercano.
His testimony took a dramatic turn when he revealed that as he called out to Routh, he suddenly noticed the rifle barrel moving and heard a groan followed by a smile from Routh. At first, he thought perhaps Routh was just a homeless person. However, the barrel of the rifle seemed to track his movements, and the presence of the plates suggested something far more sinister. “This appeared to be a textbook ambush scenario,” Fercano said, highlighting the grave situation he found himself in. Acting swiftly, he drew his weapon, stepping back and firing as chaos ensued around him.
The jury also heard Fercano’s urgent radio calls. “Mogul on 5 green,” he reported at 1:24 p.m., which alerted his colleagues that Trump was in close proximity. Just 11 seconds later came the distressing report of “Shots fired, shots fired, shots fired,” as Fercano conveyed the severity of the threat he faced.
Next, prosecutors displayed the Chinese-made SKS rifle that Routh allegedly wielded during this terrifying incident. Wearing black gloves, Fercano demonstrated to the jury how the rifle’s barrel protruded just inches through the fence. The gravity of the situation intensified as Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley claimed that Routh came “within seconds” of successfully killing a major presidential candidate.
Routh, who is representing himself, addressed the jury during his opening statement but quickly diverted from relevant topics. Over the course of just seven minutes, before Judge Aileen Cannon cut him off for his remarks that “had absolutely nothing to do with this case,” Routh wandered through a string of unrelated subjects, invoking everything from human history to various world leaders. He expressed remorse for causing disruption, stating, “Sorry to take your time and disrupt your lives… I’m so sorry,” before veering off into tangents about love and human intent.
The judge, who presides over the case, admonished Routh, making it clear that there were limits to his commentary. “We have limited patience,” she warned, urging him to maintain decorum in the courtroom. When he returned to his disjointed narrative, Cannon eventually cut him off, reiterating the importance of respecting the court’s decorum.
Before the trial continued with the prosecution’s case, Routh became emotional, declaring, “This case means absolutely nothing. A life has been lived to the fullest.” His lack of focus on the implications of the charges against him stands in stark contrast to the serious consideration given by the prosecutor’s team. Shipley highlighted Routh’s own threats regarding Trump, including alarming statements like, “Trump cannot be elected” and “I need Trump to go away.” The prosecution illustrated Routh’s preparation for his attack, noting that he traveled from Hawaii equipped with a military-grade rifle, ammunition, burner phones, and a web of deception that began in Honolulu.
Prosecutors painted a picture of premeditated malice, presenting the jury with evidence of Routh’s alleged intent and planning. Shipley described how Routh perched for 10 hours, rifle ready, waiting for an opportunity to target Trump as the former president played golf. “Had [Fercano] not seen that rifle,” Shipley argued, “the defendant would have succeeded in killing Trump.”
Alongside the legal intricacies, the trial draws on an unsettling backdrop—news of a previous assassination attempt on Trump, which took place just months prior in Pennsylvania. The case against Routh presses forward as the implications of his actions and intentions remain at the forefront of the proceedings. Facing serious charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer, Routh’s responses and behavior inside the courtroom will remain closely scrutinized as the trial unfolds.
This return to a courtroom setting carries with it a chilling aura, with the events of September 2024 still fresh in the minds of many. As the trial progresses, more details are expected to come to light, revealing the full extent of Routh’s alleged plot and the immediate danger he posed.
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