Ryan Root, 58, the suspect in the attempted assassination of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, has been charged with firearm possession, Bloomberg reports.
“The suspect in the apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was charged Monday with violating federal gun laws. Ryan Root, 58, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession and receipt of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Florida. – the agency reports.
It should be noted that these may just be the initial charges filed against Ruth, who was arrested the day before near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. The FBI said it was investigating the incident as a possible assassination attempt on the former president. The criminal case allows Root to remain in custody until an indictment is expected to be filed on Sept. 30. Additional charges may be added at this time, the agency explains.
A conviction for possession of a firearm carries a prison sentence of 15 years. The charge of destruction of a serial number is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
“The incident occurred while Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, was golfing. According to a criminal complaint, a Secret Service agent saw what appeared to be a rifle sticking out of bushes on a golf course on Sunday. The agent fired in the direction of the rifle. Ruth was taken into custody by police after a vehicle chase. Investigators found that Root was previously convicted in December 2002 of possession of a weapon of mass destruction and in March 2010 of multiple counts of possession of stolen property. Both sentences were handed down in North Carolina,” Bloomberg writes.
