Sheriff questions if others involved in assassination attempt

(The Center Square) – Martin County Sheriff William Snyder on Monday speculated about whether the gunman who allegedly planned to assassinate President Donald Trump Sunday acted alone or was part of a wider conspiracy.

The gunman, identified as Ryan Routh, 58, was arrested Sunday after pointing a rifle through a chain-link fence at the golf course former President Donald Trump was playing

Authorities apprehended Routh after a witness provided authorities a photo of his car and license plate as he fled the scene. The FBI is investigating the case as an attempted assassination of Trump, the second in two months.

Routh, who spent most of his life in North Carolina before moving to Hawaii, was charged Monday with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, with more serious charges expected.

When asked if authorities knew whether Routh had a connection to Martin Country and how we was able to track Trump to the golf course, Snyder said he did not.

"To my knowledge, the answer is no, I have no knowledge," Snyder said. "I think what we're finding out is he's not from this area, which of course raises the bigger question, is, how does a guy from not here get all the way to Trump International, realize that the president, former president of the United States, is golfing and is able to get a rifle in that vicinity? I think that's the question the FBI, the Secret Service are laser-focused on today – is this guy part of a conspiracy? Is he a lone gunman? If he's a lone gunman, President Trump is that much safer because we have him. But if he's part of a conspiracy, then this whole thing really takes on a very ominous tone."