Security and military experts have reacted to the latest assassination attempt. Former President Donald Trump, Keeping in mind the difficulty faced by the US Secret Service in protecting the former President.
“Open areas like golf courses are extremely difficult to secure,” former SWAT commander and sniper team leader Josh Shirbard told Fox News Digital.
“The routes to entry are nearly endless, and most golf courses have an abundance of forested areas, bushes and other landscape features that make one’s approach even easier. Given these challenges, the best chance for an assassination attempt would be to try and shoot a target with a long-range rifle, using terrain masking and distance as your allies.”
The comments came after the FBI said on Sunday it was investigating an apparent assassination attempt on Trump, this time after shots were fired near the former president at Trump International Golf Club. West Palm Beach, Florida.
Donald Trump is safe after shooting outside Palm Beach golf club
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference held at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on Friday, September 13. (AP/JC Hong)
The suspect is 58 years old. Ryan Wesley Routh, He was arrested after he fled from the scene on Sunday.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters on Sunday that the gunman was about 300 to 500 yards from Trump and was armed with an AK-47 rifle but was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent who “engaged” the suspect.
“Without knowing too much about the rifle, there are some challenges with this type of shot and this weapon system. The ‘standard’ AK-47 fires a 7.62mm round and is one of the most prevalent weapons in the world. While it is incredibly reliable and ‘technically’ has an effective range of 700 yards, it is not known for being very accurate,” Shirburd said.
“We still don’t know much about the shooter and his experience,” he added. “But we do know that even with a 30-round magazine, attempts like this usually only allow 1 – 3 rounds to hit the target before disappearing from view. Is this an amateur attempt? Most likely. Even long-range snipers don’t leave their gear behind like this potential shooter.”
Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine and Department of Defense (DoD) contractor, told Fox News Digital that the weapon used by the suspect could have been effective out to about 1,000 yards.
“Assuming it was a rifle with a caliber between 5.56 and 7.62, a skilled shooter could effectively hit a target at 1,000 yards,” Robichaux said. “So, if the shooter had any good skill, he was certainly within range to hit President Trump.”
Robichaux also said that even for an “entry-level Marine,” a “shot from 500 yards without a scope” “should be capable of hitting a man-sized target.”
Sheriff vehicles are photographed near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday, September 15, 2024, after shots were reported in the area near Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Stephanie Mattat)
Joy Reid suggests Trump can’t escape consequences of his rhetoric after assassination attempt
Trump was reportedly traveling between the 5th and 6th holes of the course at the time of the incident, meaning that unlike the previous attack on him in Pennsylvania, when the former president was stationary, the timing of the gunfire was crucial, as the former president could have moved closer to danger as he moved across the course.
Meanwhile, Mark “Oz” Geist, the best-selling co-author of “13 Hours” and a security and military consultant, told Fox News Digital that the radius probably doesn’t make much of a difference.
“One of the weapons reportedly recovered from the final firing position at Trump International Golf Course, where former President Donald Trump was playing golf, appears to be an aftermarket semi-automatic replica of a Kalashnikov rifle,” Geist said. “Its maximum effective range is 380 yards with iron sights. A scope will not necessarily increase the maximum effective range, but will provide the shooter with greater accuracy.”
“The photos also included a chain-link fence with a backpack attached to it and another carrying case that appeared to contain ceramic plates that had a hole in the fence to be fired. This setup suggests that the potential shooter placed these items in a defensive position, possibly in anticipation of being compromised and receiving retaliatory fire from the Secret Service.”
Sheriff vehicles are photographed near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday, September 15, 2024, after shots were reported in the area near Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
Click here to get the Fox News app
No harm done to Trump Event, Senior campaign advisers Chris Lacivita and Suzy Wyle wrote after the incident that an “evil monster” had attempted to take Trump’s life “for the second time in two months”.
“Thankfully, no one was injured on the golf course. President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the fantastic work of the United States Secret Service,” he wrote.
