Gun brand used in Trump assassination attempt owned by Palmetto State Armory parent, newspaper reports

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The rifle brand used in Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is owned by the parent company of South Carolina-based Palmetto State Armory, which runs a branch in Myrtle Beach, USA Today reported on Tuesday.

In 2023, Trump toured Palmetto State Armory’s Summerville plant, posing with its owner.

USA Today said a similar type of gun was recovered by authorities in the 2015 San Bernardino attack where 14 people were killed and another 22 injured.

“DPMS stands for Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services. Founded in 1985, it was a defense contractor started by Randy Luth. Under Luth, the St. Cloud, Minnesota-based company was a fast-growing manufacturer of AR parts that eventually developed Panther Arms brand of firearms,” the newspaper said.

Luth sold DPMS in 2007 to a group owned by private equity firm Cerberus, which later combined with Remington Outdoor Company.

DPMS was then acquired by JJE Capital Holdings in 2020 — whose assets also include Palmetto State Armory. The company operates locations across the Carolinas and Georgia.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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