The suspect believed to be involved in what the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) described as "an apparent attempted assassination on former [United States] President [Donald] Trump" was charged on Monday with federal gun crimes.
During his first appearance in the court, the prosecutors charged the 58-year-old Ryan Routh with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Earlier, officials familiar with the investigation told The Wall Street Journal that the suspect left behind an AK-style rifle that had a "partially obliterated" serial number, making it difficult to discover where the weapon was obtained. Meanwhile, court records showed Routh already had a criminal history that should have prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Previously, shots were heard near the Trump International Golf Course in Florida, where the ex-head of state was at the time. Not long after, Routh was apprehended.
