West Palm Beach, FL - What was initially reported as a potential assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf club has now raised more questions than answers, according to a Narativ investigation.

On September 15, 2024, chaos erupted at Trump International Golf Club when a man allegedly opened fire near the course where the former president was playing. Trump was unharmed in the incident.

The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested after a high-speed chase. Routh, a North Carolina native who relocated to Hawaii in 2018, has a complex background that includes a 2002 felony conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction.

However, discrepancies in the official narrative have emerged. Court documents place Routh at the golf course at 1:00 AM, hours before Trump's reportedly last-minute decision to play golf. This timing has raised questions about how Routh knew to be there.

The weapon allegedly used, an SKS-style rifle with an obliterated serial number, is not commonly sold in Florida, adding another layer of mystery to the incident.

Months before the event, social media posts warned about Routh's alleged misrepresentation of ties to international military organizations. One user, claiming to be a former International Legion member, stated Routh was "misrepresenting himself and lying to many people" about connections to Ukrainian forces.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of a tight presidential race. Recent polls show Vice President Kamala Harris with a narrow 0.2 percentage point lead in battleground states, while former President Trump leads in states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona. Pennsylvania, with its crucial 19 electoral votes, is currently tied.

Local law enforcement and federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident. The Department of Justice has notably avoided using the term "assassination attempt" in its statements, referring instead to "firearms charges related to an incident."

As the investigation unfolds, many questions remain unanswered. How did Routh obtain the weapon? What were his true intentions? And why was he at the golf course hours before Trump arrived?

Narativ will continue to follow this developing story as more information becomes available.

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