Guilty Verdict in Attempted Assassination Case in Florida

Fort Pierce, Florida, September 24, 2025

News Summary

In Fort Pierce, Florida, Ryan Routh was found guilty in court for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump. The jury deliberated for about two hours before reaching their decision. Following the verdict, Routh attempted self-harm, leading to chaotic scenes. The prosecution presented evidence outlining Routh’s months-long plot to kill the former president while golfing, as Routh faced serious charges including felony weapon offenses and prior violent incidents. A sentencing date is set, with potential life imprisonment on the table.

Fort Pierce, Florida

Rough Day on the 18th Hole

The courtroom felt like a gallery at a big tournament when the verdict came in — tense, focused, and suddenly loud. The guilty verdict was reached by a jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, after about two hours of deliberation. The jury consisted of five men and seven women who found Routh guilty on all counts he was facing.

As if that finish wasn’t dramatic enough for golf fans who love a late charge, Ryan Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen shortly after being found guilty in court. The scene turned chaotic, with officers quickly restraining him and family members reacting loudly. Routh’s daughter, Sara Routh, screamed in distress as he was being restrained by officers, insisting her father did not hurt anyone.

From the Gallery to the Fairway

The prosecution laid out a case that, for weeks, had runners and marshals watching like caddies following a star player. The prosecution presented evidence that Routh plotted for weeks to kill Donald Trump, including aiming a rifle at him while Trump played golf on September 15, 2024. A Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view, resulting in a confrontation that led to Routh fleeing the scene.

The trial itself looked like different groups with different strategies — prosecutors called 38 witnesses over a week-long trial, while Routh called three witnesses in total. Routh defended himself in court and did not testify, resting his case after calling only three witnesses. Routh had no legal expertise and requested the right to represent himself in court despite the judge warning that it was a bad idea.

Past Fouls and Rough History

The record presented in court read like a long scorecard of trouble. Routh reportedly tried to recruit foreign soldiers to fight in Ukraine and had a prior criminal history including felony weapons charges. Prior to the assassination attempt, Routh had also been involved in violent incidents, including a 2002 arrest for eluding police with a machine gun.

In his closing argument Routh stuck to a basic defense every golfer knows: don’t count strokes until the ball is in the hole. Routh’s closing argument included claims of innocence, asserting that no crime occurred because he did not pull the trigger.

What’s Next — Sentencing and Reactions

The penalties at stake are severe; Routh faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for December 18 at 9:30 a.m. After the verdict, Trump praised the judicial process publicly, reflecting on the seriousness of assassination attempts against a presidential candidate. In response to the verdict, Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the importance of punishing political violence.

For golf fans used to tension on the last green, this was a reminder that off-course drama can be just as gripping — and just as dangerous — as anything that happens on the fairway. The case combined cold planning with chaotic moments, and it ended with a jury decision arrived at in roughly the time it takes to finish a long round of 18 holes.

Final Putts

This trial will now head to sentencing, and the memory of that frantic moment in court — the attempted self-harm, the screams, the rapid restraint — will likely be part of the record. Golf lovers who follow high-profile figures on course will recognize the scene: a public event interrupted by danger, security reacting like a committed caddy team, and a legal aftermath that feels like the slow walk to the clubhouse after a round gone bad.

FAQ

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What dramatic thing happened in court after the verdict?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Ryan Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen shortly after being found guilty in court.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How long did the jury deliberate and where?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The guilty verdict was reached by a jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, after about two hours of deliberation.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What was the jury makeup?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The jury consisted of five men and seven women who found Routh guilty on all counts he was facing.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What did the prosecution say Routh plotted?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The prosecution presented evidence that Routh plotted for weeks to kill Donald Trump, including aiming a rifle at him while Trump played golf on September 15, 2024.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Did anyone see him at the golf scene?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “A Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view, resulting in a confrontation that led to Routh fleeing the scene.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “When is sentencing scheduled?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Routh faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for December 18 at 9:30 a.m.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How did Routh handle his defense?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Routh defended himself in court and did not testify, resting his case after calling only three witnesses.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How did the subject of the plot respond publicly?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “After the verdict, Trump praised the judicial process publicly, reflecting on the seriousness of assassination attempts against a presidential candidate.”
}
}
]
}

Quick Reference Table

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

MTA Urges Schools to Protect Teachers’ Free Speech Rights
Conservative Activist Fatally Shot on Utah College Campus
August 20: A Date of Significance for Golfers and History Lovers
Boston Woman Arrested for Armed Robbery at CVS
Former Mobster Faces Detention Over Assassination Plot
Boston Celebrates Haitian Heritage with Flag Day Parade
Massachusetts Residents Rally Against Trump

Additional Resources

• NBC News
• Wikipedia: Assassination Attempt
• WPBF
• Google Search: Donald Trump assassination attempt
• Los Angeles Times
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Donald Trump
• Associated Press
• Google News: Trump assassination attempt

Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.