Trump second assassination attempt: How it happened

Donald Trump narrowly escaped a second assassination attempt in as many months. Here’s how the former president keeps dodging the snipers’ crosshairs.

TIMELINE:

■ 1:59am: Ryan Routh’s cell phone was pinged near Trump International Golf Club “tree line”, where a sniper’s nest was discovered less than 500 meters from Hole 5.

■ 1:31pm: Secret Service agent spots rifle barrel poking out of the tree line and opens fire on the suspect.

■ 2:14pm: Police stop suspect’s vehicle on the I-95.

■ 2:40pm: Trump spokesman confirms former president is safe.

Donald Trump was even par through the first four holes of his Sunday afternoon round of golf. It was a good start, the former president thought, and he had a birdie putt on the fifth.

His course in West Palm Beach was quiet until he and Steve Witkoff – his friend and a major donor to his re-election bid – were stunned by a loud noise ripping through the humid air.

“Pop pop, pop pop,” the pair both recounted hearing to Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, holds a photograph of the rifle and other items found near where a suspect was discovered as he stands with Rafael Barros (R), special agent in charge of the US Secret Service's Miami field office during a press conference. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Several hundred metres away, Mr Trump’s Secret Service agents had opened fire.

They were sweeping the course in front of the Republican, part of a protocol that also included agents at his side and behind him, when they spotted a rifle pointing out from the trees.

Two months after the 78-year-old was shot while speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, the agents didn’t take any chances. Mr Trump and Mr Witkoff were bundled into golf carts and raced back to the clubhouse as the man behind the rifle was pursued.

Secret Service personnel were not certain if he had managed to get off a shot.

A witness then spotted him running out of the bushes and jumping into a black Nissan SUV, a dramatic escape that was also tracked by Secret Service drones overhead.

While local police gave chase, the agents quickly identified what appeared to be the sniper’s nest.

There were two backpacks, a Go-Pro camera and an AK-47-style rifle. Law enforcement officials later said Mr Trump would have been well and truly within range of Ryan Routh – the 58-year-old accused of the assassination attempt – had he not been disturbed in preparing for an attack he was apparently planning to film.

Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Half an hour later, on the Interstate 95 highway, Martin County officers spotted Mr Routh’s getaway car. In a bid to avoid a high-speed chase, Sheriff William Snyder said multiple police vehicles moved to surround him and forced him to pull over.

“We did not give him an opportunity to put up a fight,” he said.

The suspect was unarmed and “not displaying a lot of emotion”, Mr Snyder said, adding that “he never questioned it” as he was arrested.

Back at his golf club, Mr Trump rushed to confirm that his protective team and his golfing partner were safe, as his campaign office nearby was also locked down.

Then he hit the phones to friends and allies, reassuring them that he was unscathed. That was when, according to Mr Hannity, his “fight, fight, fight” attitude kicked in once again.

“I really wanted to finish the hole,” Mr Trump told Mr Witkoff.

“I was even and I had a birdie putt.”