It was on Sunday, September 15, that the Secret Service discovered a rifle barrel sticking out through a fence – and pointing towards the golf course in Florida where Trump was playing a round.
The man with the rifle fled when he was discovered and was arrested later. No shots at Trump were fired.
He was initially charged with two counts of weapons offenses, but the charges are now being adjusted to also include attempted murder. The US Department of Justice believes that the 58-year-old methodically planned to kill the Republican presidential candidate.
A letter that the man wrote and left with a third person is considered crucial evidence. The letter was in a box that the 58-year-old left with the person several months ago, but it was not opened until he was arrested.
"This was an attempt to murder Donald Trump, but I failed you. I tried my best", the letter states, addressed to "dear world". Additionally, the letter writer has promised $150,000 to whoever "finishes the job".
According to the prosecutor, the man also had a list of all the places where Trump was expected to appear during August, September, and October. He kept it in his car.
A charge of attempted murder of a presidential candidate can result in life imprisonment in the US if convicted. In addition to attempted murder, the man is also being charged with assault on an official and multiple weapons offenses.
This is the second time during the election campaign that Donald Trump has been the target of an assassination attempt. In July, his ear was injured in a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
