The man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in South Florida was hit with an additional attempted murder charge Wednesday — but not for trying to kill Trump.
Ryan Routh, 58, was charged in Florida in connection with a car crash that occurred on Interstate 95 as police pursued him along the highway in September. A 6-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in the wreck.
“When you couple those terrible injuries, together with his other criminal conduct, which we believe rises to the level of domestic terrorism, it turns his actions into an attempted felony murder case,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said at a news conference.
In this imaged released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement officers arrest Ryan Routh, the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
Routh already faces multiple federal charges for his alleged plot, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. If convicted on those charges, he’s likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. He’s pleaded not guilty.
On Sept. 15, Routh camped out at a golf course in West Palm Beach, where Trump was playing, according to police. Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of Routh’s weapon in a shrub, but chased him off before he could take a shot.
Routh then fled north on I-95 in a Nissan Xterra, cops said. Authorities raced after him and shut down the busy highway.
With all northbound lanes closed, traffic backed up, but an unprepared motorist struck the back of another vehicle, sending that car into a spin. Inside the affected car was a 6-year-old girl who was airlifted to a local hospital but survived her injuries.
While the crash happened roughly 30 minutes after Routh’s arrest, Moody maintains it was a result of his actions.
Routh’s attorney did not comment on the new charge, which will be prosecuted in Florida state court separately from the federal case.