Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was safe after what the FBI has said appeared to be an assassination attempt while he was golfing on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Law enforcement officials said US Secret Service agents spotted and fired on a gunman in some bushes near the property line with an AK-47-style assault rifle.
After spotting the rifle barrel about 365 to 457 meters away from Mr Trump as they cleared holes of potential threats ahead of his play, the agents engaged the gunman and fired at least four rounds of ammunition, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told a news conference.
The gunman then dropped his rifle, two backpacks and other items and fled in a black Nissan car.
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A witness, the sheriff said, saw the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate.
“The Secret Service did exactly what should have been done,” Mr Bradshaw added.
After the suspect fled the scene, law enforcement officials said they sent out an alert to statewide agencies with the information on his vehicle, which led to sheriff’s deputies in neighboring Martin County apprehending the suspect on I-95.
“We have somebody in custody right now,” said Mr Bradshaw, who did not identify the suspect or give details on a possible motive.
Mr Trump sent an email to his fundraising list saying there were “gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” according to an email seen by Reuters.
Mr Trump was injured in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on 13 July, raising questions about protection for candidates just months ahead of what looks likely to be a highly contested 5 November election in which he will face off against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The White House said in a statement that President Joe Bidenand Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed about the incident and were relieved to know that he is safe.
“Violence has no place in America,” Ms Harris said in a social media post.
I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024
Mr Trump’s running mate in the presidential election, US Senator JD Vance, said he spoke to Mr Trump after the shooting and that the former president was in good spirits.
The assassination attempt in July, which was the first shooting of a US president or major party presidential candidate in more than four decades.
The incident was seen as a glaring security lapse that forced Kimberly Cheatle to resign as Secret Service director under bipartisan congressional pressure.
I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.
Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 15, 2024
Mr Trump was grazed in the right ear and one rally goer was killed in the gunfire. The gunman, identified as a 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The US Secret Service’s new acting director said in August that he was “ashamed” of a security lapse that led to theassassination attempt.