LET’S LISTEN IN. SO HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. 130 THIS AFTERNOON CALL CAME OUT. SHOTS FIRED. THAT WAS CALLED IN BY THE SECRET SERVICE BECAUSE WE’RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEM ALL THE TIME. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THAT. AND WE HAD UNITS HERE THAT IMMEDIATELY SEALED OFF THE AREA. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE A WITNESS THAT CAME TO US AND SAID, HEY, I SAW THE GUY RUNNING OUT OF THE BUSHES. HE JUMPED INTO A BLACK NISSAN AND I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TAG, WHICH WAS GREAT. SO WE HAD THAT INFORMATION. OUR REAL TIME CRIME CENTER PUT IT OUT TO THE LICENSE PLATE. READERS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET A HIT ON THAT VEHICLE ON I-95 AS IT WAS HEADED INTO MARTIN COUNTY. WE GOT A HOLD OF MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, ALERTED THEM, AND THEY SPOTTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED IT OVER AND DETAINED THE GUY. AFTER THAT, WE TOOK THE VICTIM. I’M SORRY, THE WITNESS THAT WITNESSED THE INCIDENT TOOK FLEW HIM UP THERE AND HE IDENTIFIED AS THE PERSON THAT HE SAW RUNNING OUT OF THE BUSHES THAT JUMPED INTO THE CAR. NOW, IN THE BUSHES WHERE THIS GUY WAS IS A AK 47 STYLE RIFLE WITH A SCOPE, TWO BACKPACKS, WHICH WERE HUNG ON THE FENCE THAT HAD CERAMIC TILE IN THEM, AND A GOPRO WHICH HE WAS GOING TO TAKE PICTURES OF. SO THOSE ARE BEING PROCESSED RIGHT NOW. THE SECRET SERVICE AGENT THAT WAS ON THE COURSE DID A FANTASTIC JOB. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE AN AGENT THAT JUMPS ONE HOLE AHEAD OF TIME TO WHERE THE PRESIDENT WAS AT, AND HE WAS ABLE TO SPOT THIS RIFLE BARREL STICKING OUT OF THE FENCE AND IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE THAT INDIVIDUAL AT WHICH TIME THE INDIVIDUAL TOOK OFF. SO THAT’S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW THAT IS A POTENTIAL SUSPECT. WE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO WORK TO DO ON IT, BUT AS WE USUALLY DO, AS SOON AS WE DECIDE THAT WE’RE GOING TO BOOK HIM INTO THE COUNTY JAIL AND THE CHARGES THAT HE’S GOING TO BE BOOKED INTO, WE’LL GET THOSE TO YOU AND WE’LL GET A PICTURE OF THEM, AND WE’LL GET YOU HIS BACKGROUND. SO NOW I’M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRET SERVICE, AND HE’S GOING TO MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I FIRST WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO INCLUDE THE PALM BEACH SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT. TODAY, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS SAFE AND UNHARMED FOLLOWING A PROTECTIVE INCIDENT SHORTLY BEFORE 2 P.M. ON SUNDAY AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB AT WEST PALM BEACH.
3 THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE PERSONNEL OPENED FIRE ON A GUNMAN LOCATED NEAR THE PROPERTY LINE, AND THIS MATTER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. I’LL TURN IT OVER TO MY PARTNERS OVER AT THE FBI. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JEFFREY VELTRI. I’M THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE FBI’S MIAMI FIELD OFFICE. THE FBI HAS ASSUMED THE ROLE AS THE LEAD FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED EARLIER TODAY AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF COURSE HERE IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. WE’VE DEPLOYED A NUMBER OF RESOURCES, INCLUDING INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS, CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS, BOMB TECHNICIANS AND EVIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS. AS WELL. WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO AVOID THE AREA AROUND THE GOLF COURSE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS INVESTIGATION WITH THE FULL RESOURCES OF THE FBI ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS WITH THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE AND THE PALM BEACH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AS WELL AS MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WOULD ASK THAT IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY ASSIST WITH THIS INVESTIGATION TO CONTACT OUR TIP LINE AT ONE 800, CALL FBI OR AT TIPS. THAT’S T I P S DOT FBI.GOV. THANK YOU. DAVID. HI, I’M DAVE ARONBERG, STATE ATTORNEY FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY. I WANT TO THANK SHERIFF BRADSHAW AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS. I’M HERE BECAUSE OUR PROSECUTORS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING UP WARRANTS AND A MOTION FOR PRETRIAL DETENTION FOR THE SUSPECT. IN THAT WAY, HE WILL BE KEPT IN CUSTODY. BUT OUR FILING OF THESE WARRANTS AND CHARGES AT THE STATE LEVEL DOES NOT PRECLUDE FEDERAL CHARGES THAT COULD BE COMING. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT LOOKS LIKE THE WARRANTS AND THE PRETRIAL DETENTION MOTION WILL HAPPEN FIRST AND AGAIN. I WANT TO THANK THE COOPERATION WE’VE HAD WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. OKAY. WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THESE PICTURES AVAILABLE TO YOU. IT’LL SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF THE BACKPACK AND THE RIFLE. AND THERE’S ALSO A GOPRO ON THE FENCE THERE WHERE HE WAS INTENT ON FILMING WHAT WAS GOING ON. EVEN THOUGH WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO SECURE A COUPLE AREAS AROUND THE GOLF COURSE HERE, THE PUBLIC DOESN’T NEED TO PANIC. WE KNOW THAT WE’VE GOT A POST OFFICE, A LIBRARY AND A SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET, SO WE’LL MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO GET TO ALL THE PLACES YOU NEED TO GO. GET YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL, GET THEM OVER HERE TO THE POST OFFICE OR WHEREVER ELSE YOU NEED TO GO. IT’S SAFE. THERE’S NO MORE DANGER HERE, AND WE’LL MAKE IT VERY CONVENIENT FOR YOU. SO HAVING SAID THAT, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS AND YOU CAN DIRECT THEM TO WHO YOU WANT TO ANSWER. THE QUESTION. SHERIFF, DID THIS INDIVIDUAL MAKE ANY STATEMENTS AS HE WAS BEING DETAINED? NO STATEMENT RIGHT NOW. AS FAR AS HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE INCIDENT AND THERE WAS FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO BE COMPLETED. WHAT WAS HIS DEMEANOR LIKE? YEAH, I’M NOT SURE IF MAYBE THE SECRET SERVICE GENTLEMEN AND I MISUNDERSTOOD QUITE UNDERSTAND. SO THERE WAS A RIFLE. SO ONE OF YOUR AGENTS SAW ON THE GOLF COURSE SAW A RIFLE POINTING TO A FENCE WITHIN THE CHAINLINK. OKAY, SO HE SAW THAT THE AGENT THAT IS CORRECT. YES. AND THE PRESIDENT OR FORMER PRESIDENT WAS ON THE COURSE BEHIND HIM. HOW CLOSE IT WAS. 1 OR 2 HOLES BEHIND HIM. BECAUSE THE BUBBLE MOVES UP THROUGH THE GOLF COURSE. SO OUR AGENTS WILL GET THEIR FIRST CLEAR. IT. HE NOTICED THAT THE RIFLE WAS POINTED OUT, OUR AGENTS ENGAGED, WE ARE NOT SURE RIGHT NOW IF THE INDIVIDUAL WAS ABLE TO TAKE A SHOT AT OUR AGENTS, BUT FOR SURE OUR AGENTS WERE ABLE TO TO ENGAGE WITH THE WITH THE. I DON’T KNOW THAT DOESN’T APPEAR. SO IS THERE A BONUS OUT? HOW FAR AWAY WAS THE PRESIDENT OF? HOW FAR AWAY WAS DONALD TRUMP WHEN THIS GENTLEMAN WAS CAUGHT AND STOPPED? OKAY, PROBABLY BETWEEN THREE AND 500 YARDS, BUT WITH A RIFLE AND A SCOPE LIKE THAT, THAT’S NOT A LONG DISTANCE FOR THE SECRET SERVICE. HOW FAR WAS YOUR AGENT FROM THE WOULD BE ASSAILANT THAT I I’M NOT I’M NOT SURE RIGHT NOW THAT’S. WE’RE STILL LOOKING INTO THE COURSE OF THE FOUR ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION WERE FIRED, BUT ALL FOUR OF THOSE IN YOUR AGENTS. THAT IS CORRECT. 4 TO 6. WE’RE NOT SURE YET. THOSE ARE A LONG DISTANCE EXPLAINING WHY. YES, YES. THANK YOU. AND YES, MA’AM, 25. I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE HOW THIS WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN AND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, IS THERE ANY OTHER SECURITY IN THE GOLF COURSE? I DIDN’T HEAR ALL OF THAT COULD SAY THAT. ONE MORE TIME AND TALK UP A LITTLE BIT. SO HOW WAS THIS ABLE TO HAPPEN? AND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, IS THERE ANY OTHER SECURITY ON THE GOLF COURSE? WELL, YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND, THE GOLF COURSE IS SURROUNDED BY SHRUBBERY. SO WHEN SOMEBODY GETS INTO THE SHUBBERY, THEY’RE PRETTY MUCH OUT OF SIGHT. ALL RIGHT. AND AT THIS LEVEL THAT HE IS AT RIGHT NOW, HE’S NOT THE SITTING PRESIDENT. IF HE WAS, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HIRE A GOLF COURSE AROUND IT. BUT BECAUSE HE’S NOT, THE SECURITY IS LIMITED TO THE AREAS THAT THE SECRET SERVCE DEEMS POSSIBLE. SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE NEXT TIME HE COMES AT A GOLF COURSE, THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PEOPLE AROUND THE PERIMETER. BUT THE SECRET SERVICE DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE. THEY PROVIDED EXACTLY WHAT THE PROTECTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND THEIR AGENT DID A FANTASTIC JOB. WHICH DIRECTION WAS THE SHRUBBERY WAS NORTH SOUTH OR EAST WEST AND SOUTH OF THE ROAD. THE LAYOUT OF THE GOLF COURSE. YOU’VE GOT THREE HOLES FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN. ALL RIGHT. ONE OF THEM RUNS PARALLEL TO SUMMIT BOULEVARD. ONE OF THEM RUNS PARALLEL TO CONGRESS, AND HE WAS IN AN AREA IN THE IN THE SHRUBBERY WHERE HE COULD SEE BOTH HOLES. SO THE PRESIDENT WAS ANOTHER HOLE BACK, WHICH MEANS HE’S ABOUT BETWEEN FOUR AND 500 YARDS AWAY. SO HE WAS ON THE GOLF COURSE. OH, HE’S ON THE GOLF COURSE. YEAH, BUT HE’S BACK A WAYS FOR THE SECRET SERVICE. HAVE YOU GUYS CHANGED AT ALL THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROTECTING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS NOW A SECOND POTENTIAL SECOND ATTEMPT ON HIM. CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE ON HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND WHAT YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS? YES. THE THE THREAT LEVEL IS HIGH. WE HAVE INCREASED THE THE AMOUNT OF ASSETS THAT WE’VE SUPPORTED. SO WE ARE WE LIVE IN DANGER TIMES. SO YES. OKAY. I THINK THE WHAT WE’RE DONE WITH QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW. THERE’S REALLY NOTHING MORE FOR US TO ADD. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THE SECRET SERVICE AND THE FBI AND THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, OUR AGENCY WITH THIS REAL TIME CRIME CENTER WAS FABULOUS. THAT’S HOW WE GOT THE GUY. WE STARTED OUT WITH. WE DON’T KNOW ANYTHING TO WHERE WE HAD A TAG. WE HAD A VEHICLE DESCRIPTION, AND WE GOT AN AREA WHERE WE SAW THE PERSON. SO BE PROUD. BE PROUD OF YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. AL