Neighbor of Trump shooting suspect speaks out

We’ve learned some disturbing new details about the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Ryan Wesley Routh, now in custody after the alleged attempt, was apparently feared in his North Carolina neighborhood long before this shocking event.

An anonymous neighbor, who claims to have known Routh for nearly two decades in Greensboro, recently spoke out to Fox 8. Her words? “I knew he was a little cuckoo,” adding that “a lot of people were afraid of him back in the day.” That’s not something you hear every day about a guy who ended up targeting a former president.

But the story gets even stranger. Despite Routh’s “cuckoo” behavior, the neighbor was stunned by his alleged plot. “I mean, trying to shoot Trump? That’s a lot. I would have never guessed,” she said, clearly in disbelief. She described seeing Routh with “a lot of guns” over the years and noted that his behavior instilled fear in the community. Yet, when he left North Carolina for Hawaii earlier this year, she claimed, nothing seemed amiss. “He told me it was the last day he was here and he hugged me goodbye,” she said. Not exactly the farewell of someone who would later be caught with an AK-47 trying to assassinate a former president.

Now, here’s what we know about this alleged assassination attempt: Routh was spotted at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15. Armed with a scoped AK-47 and equipped with a GoPro camera, he set up what can only be described as a sniper’s nest in the hedges at the edge of the golf course, apparently planning to record the incident. A Secret Service agent noticed Routh and opened fire, prompting him to flee. He was later arrested on I-95 by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

So, who is this guy? Well, he has a history. Routh is 58 years old, originally from North Carolina, with a lengthy criminal record, including a charge for “possessing a weapon of mass destruction.” He has a LinkedIn page that shows he attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University but relocated to Hawaii around 2018. More concerning, however, is his political activity. Routh has been a devoted Democrat, frequently posting about politics online and making 19 donations to Democratic candidates since 2019. He’s a textbook example of someone who straddles the line between political activism and dangerous fanaticism.

Interestingly, it was just months ago that this same neighbor said goodbye to Routh as he moved to Hawaii, even receiving a gift—a shirt—from him. She thought he was “just living the life in Hawaii.” Instead, he was allegedly plotting a sniper attack against a former U.S. president. This is what happens when political derangement goes unchecked.

Now, this isn’t the first time Routh has had run-ins with the law. According to records, he racked up over a dozen criminal charges in 2001 and 2002, including carrying a concealed weapon and a hit-and-run. But that wasn’t the end of it. In April 2002, Routh was slapped with an alarming felony charge for “possessing a weapon of mass destruction.” If that doesn’t raise red flags, what will?

On Sunday, Routh was spotted near the golf club with his rifle, preparing for what appears to have been a meticulously planned attack. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw noted that Routh was just 300 to 500 yards away from Trump—a very achievable shot with a scoped rifle. Thanks to quick action by the Secret Service, this nightmare scenario was averted.

As for Routh’s motives? Well, that remains a mystery. A political supporter of progressive causes, Routh’s actions seem to align with the dangerous rhetoric that has become increasingly prevalent in today’s hyper-polarized political environment. But let’s be honest: attempts like these are rarely about politics alone. They’re about disturbed individuals acting out in a world that seems to reward extremism.

This is what we’re up against. Dangerous actors who’ve been flying under the radar for years, often ignored or dismissed as “a little cuckoo.” It’s a stark reminder that political violence can come from any side, and it’s more critical than ever to recognize the warning signs in our own communities.

So, what do you think? Is this just a one-off “cuckoo” neighbor story, or is it indicative of something much more sinister brewing beneath the surface? Feel free to weigh in with your comments.