FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh was found guilty on Tuesday of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course last year. The jury, consisting of five men and seven women, deliberated for about two hours before reaching a unanimous verdict on all counts against him.

Immediately after the verdict was announced, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen. U.S. Marshals quickly intervened, removing him from the courtroom as his daughter, Sara Routh, shouted, "Dad, I love you, don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody." Routh was later brought back into the courtroom, now shackled and without his jacket and tie, but there were no visible injuries.

Routh, 59, faces a potential life sentence and is scheduled for sentencing on December 18. He was charged with multiple offenses, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and assaulting a federal officer. Routh had pleaded not guilty and chose to represent himself during the trial.

Prosecutors argued that Routh had spent weeks planning the attack. On September 15, 2024, he allegedly aimed a rifle at Trump while the former president was playing golf at his West Palm Beach country club. In his closing argument, Routh claimed he did not intend to kill anyone, stating, "It’s hard for me to believe that a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled."

Routh did not testify in his defense and rested his case after calling only three witnesses, compared to the prosecution's 38 witnesses over seven days. Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on the verdict, stating it reflects the Department of Justice's commitment to addressing political violence. "This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation," she said.

During the trial, a Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. The agent opened fire when Routh aimed his rifle at him, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot. Law enforcement later apprehended Routh with the help of a witness who identified him after hearing gunshots.

Routh has a criminal history, including past arrests for serious offenses. He had previously attempted to recruit soldiers for conflicts abroad and had been involved in various legal issues, including a 2002 incident where he barricaded himself from police with a machine gun. In addition to federal charges, Routh has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.