A local sheriff says that a person has been arrested in connection to the incident.
The Trump campaign on Sunday said that former President Donald Trump is safe after reports of gunshots in the area as a local sheriff’s office said that a suspect was detained and taken into custody.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity,“ a brief statement released by Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said. ”No further details at this time.”
It’s also not clear if shots were fired at the former president, who released an emailed statement later in the day confirming that he is “safe and well.”
“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” he said. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me.”
The statement mentioned that sheriff’s deputies have “stopped a vehicle and taken a suspect into custody,” according to a Facebook post from the office. A portion of Interstate 96 near State Route 74 was shut down, it said.
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“We will update this information as it becomes available,” the post said.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told reporters that the suspect was detained as he was driving northbound on I-95, crossing from Palm Beach County into Martin County. Federal investigators are involved, he added. Law enforcement officials found an AK-47 rifle, the sheriff said.
He said the suspect “was relatively calm” and was “not displaying a lot of emotions,” adding that the car was involved in an accident. The vehicle is now in the custody of the FBI, he said.
“One of my road control units saw the vehicle match the tag … I safely stopped and got the driver in custody,” Snyder told reporters.
The FBI, Secret Service, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office “will take over the investigation,” he said.
No injuries were reported, according to a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed.
“The President and Vice President have been briefed about the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course, where former President Trump was golfing. They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the statement said.
Donald Trump Jr., the 45th president’s eldest son, wrote on social media that an “AK-47” rifle was found “in the bushes” near the course and that a suspect was reportedly apprehended, while suggesting that the shooting was another attempt on Trump’s life. He cited local law enforcement officials for his comment.
Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach is several miles from Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s primary residence.
The incident comes just two months after a would-be assassin fired multiple shots at Trump as he was speaking at a Pennsylvania rally, with one bullet striking him in the ear. One rallygoer was killed and two others were injured.
The shooting suspect was shot and killed just moments after he fired at the former president. Federal and state law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooter.
After the incident, questions emerged about whether the U.S. Secret Service was sufficiently prepared to secure the rally, held in Butler, Pennsylvania. In the aftermath of the incident, the agency’s then-director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned from her position and a new agency director was named.
Multiple investigations have been initiated into the shooting, including by Congress, the White House, and the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general.
The U.S. Secret Service, the West Palm Beach Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and Trump campaign have not responded to requests for comment on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Original News Source Link – Epoch Times
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