Florida will launch criminal probe into apparent assassination attempt of Trump, governor says

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida law enforcement officials will launch their own criminal investigation into the apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump that will run parallel to the federal probe, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday.

The governor said Florida prosecutors will pursue the most serious charges available under state law, including attempted murder, in the state-level investigation into Ryan Wesley Routh, who was charged Monday with federal firearms offenses.

“We have a very strong interest in holding this suspect accountable,” DeSantis told reporters.

It’s not uncommon for state and federal law enforcement agencies to run simultaneous investigations into crimes, as states may be able to bring charges that are unavailable at the federal level — and vice versa.

Routh is charged at the federal level so far only with gun crimes, but additional charges are possible as Justice Department prosecutors seek an indictment from a grand jury. Prosecutors will often quickly bring the first charges they can and then add more serious charges later as the investigation unfolds.

“We will spare no resource in this investigation,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday during an event at the Justice Department.

Markenzy Lapointe, the top federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida, declined to comment on the state probe.

DeSantis said it will be handled by Florida's office of statewide prosecution, overseen by Attorney General Ashley Moody.

The FBI has interviewed the suspect's family members, friends and colleagues and is working to collect evidence. Authorities have requested search warrants seeking access to a video recording device, cellphones, a vehicle and electronics at Routh’s previous addresses.

FBI agents were spotted Tuesday at Routh's home in Kaaawa, Hawaii. FBI Honolulu office spokeswoman Sarah Rice said they were carrying out “court-authorized law enforcement activity." She said the court documents authorizing the activity were sealed.

No motive has been disclosed, and Routh invoked his right to an attorney when questioned, officials said.

Coming just weeks after a July 13 shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign rally where Trump was grazed by a gunman’s bullet, the latest assassination attempt accelerated concerns that violence continues to infect American presidential politics.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is Trump's Democratic opponent in November, spoke with him Tuesday to express how grateful she is that he is safe, according to the White House.

Routh, 58, was arrested Sunday after authorities spotted a gun poking out of shrubbery on the golf course where Trump was playing. Routh camped outside the golf course with food and a rifle for nearly 12 hours, lying in wait for the former president before a Secret Service agent thwarted the potential attack and opened fire.

Routh did not fire any shots, never had Trump in his line of sight and sped away, leaving behind a digital camera, a backpack, a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope and a plastic bag containing food, officials said. He was arrested in a neighboring county.

Routh’s attorney declined to comment after he appeared briefly in federal court Monday, when a judge ordered that he remain locked up after prosecutors argued that he was a flight risk. Routh has been moved from the Palm Beach County jail to the federal lockup in Miami. A federal magistrate set additional hearings for later this month.

In the federal case, Routh is charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina. The other charge alleges that the weapon’s serial number was obliterated and unreadable to the naked eye, in violation of federal law.

Federal investigators are examining Routh’s large online footprint, which suggests a man of evolving political viewpoints, including recently an apparent disdain for Trump, as well as intense outrage at global events concerning China and especially Ukraine.

“You are free to assassinate Trump,” Routh wrote of Iran in an apparently self-published 2023 book titled “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War,” which described the former president as a “fool” and “buffoon” for both the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the “tremendous blunder” of leaving the Iran nuclear deal.

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale and Zeke Miller in Washington also contributed to this report.

Law enforcement officials work at the scene at the Trump International Golf Club in the aftermath of the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Law enforcement officials work at the scene of the Trump International Golf Club in the aftermath of the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Law enforcement officials work at the scene of the Trump International Golf Club in the aftermath of the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks and answers questions at a news conference Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks and answers questions at a news conference Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks and answers questions at a news conference Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in the aftermath of the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks and answers questions at a news conference Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Police drive in to the Mar-a-Lago estate of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, one day after an apparent assassination attempt, in Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

ATLANTA (AP) — Haynes King threw a go-ahead 4-yard scoring pass to Jamal Haynes early in the fourth quarter and Georgia Tech overcame two touchdown passes by Maalik Murphy to beat Duke 24-14 on Saturday night, handing the Blue Devils their first loss.

Sahmir Hagans gave Duke a 14-10 lead on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Murphy late in the third quarter.

Haynes, who ran for 128 yards on 19 carries, capped a 14-play drive which covered 85 yards by catching the soft pass in the right side of the end zone for a 17-14 lead. King padded the lead with a 9-yard scoring pass to Eric Singleton Jr. with 6:36 remaining.

Georgia Tech (4-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) dominated the first half and then recovered after blowing a 10-0 lead.

Duke (5-1, 1-1) failed to extend its best start to a season since winning its first seven games in 1994.

King was busy as a runner and passer, often taking off on keepers. He had 12 carries for 30 yards while completing 23 of 31 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Zach Pyron added a 2-yard scoring run to cap the Yellow Jackets' opening drive.

Murphy passed for more than 200 yards for the sixth consecutive game, completing 18 of 31 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Ahmari Harvey ended Duke's last possession with an interception with 11 seconds remaining.

Duke's Todd Pelino was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt with 3:58 remaining.

Georgia Tech took a 108-10 advantage in total yards in the first quarter and led 10-0 before a pass interference call on Syeed Gibbs against Hagans. Hagans appeared to trip on the play before Gibbs intercepted the ball before the apparent turnover was wiped out by the penalty.

On first down from the Georgia Tech 20, Murphy threw a short pass to Eli Pancol, who found open field to the end zone. Georgia Tech fans booed following the penalty and again as teams left the field at halftime.

Duke: Murphy suffered his first loss after posting a 7-0 record, including two wins at Texas before his transfer. Murphy had too little help from the Blue Devils' running game. Star Thomas had 14 carries for only 48 yards. Georgia Tech outrushed Duke 245-74 and claimed a 412-279 advantage in total yards.

Georgia Tech: King's quick and mostly accurate passes were effective when paired with Haynes' strong runs. Jordan van den Berg had a third-down sack of Murphy late in the first half to take the Blue Devils out of field goal position and added another tackle for loss.

Duke: Hosts Florida State on Oct. 18.

Georgia Tech: Visits North Carolina on Oct. 12. The Tar Heels fell to 3-3 and 0-2 in the ACC with a 34-24 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) stiff arms Duke Blue Devils linebacker Cameron Bergeron (4) in the first quarter of a football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Zach Pyron (5) celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) runs down the sidelines after a punt return in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Malik Rutherford (8) runs the ball after a catch in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Malik Rutherford (8) breaks a tackle in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) stretches out for a pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)