Rifle Found at Location of Second Trump Assassination Attempt, ranges to Potential Targets

On September 15, 2024, a second assassination attempt was foiled by Secret Service agents when at least one fired at a person who was poking a rifle muzzle through the perimeter fence at Trump’s West Palm Beach Florida golf club.The attempt was stopped about 2 p.m. From the nypost.com:

It is the second time a madman armed with an assault rifle has tried to kill the 45th president in two months.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the suspect took cover near a chain-link fence between 300 and 500 yards from Trump as he teed off at the fifth hole around 2 p.m. — noting that “with a rifle and scope, like, that is not a long distance.”

An investigative picture has been released showing the rifle and what appear to be armor plate carriers on the chain-link fence, along with what is said to be a go-pro camera. The rifle is said to have had its serial number obliterated.  The area is claimed to have been used by photographers to obtain pictures of former President Trump. This may be one way the would be assassin determined a security breech existed. If a picture can be obtained, the subject is in range of a rifle with a telescopic sight. Various sources have claimed former president Trump was between 300 and 500 yards away. The New York Post has published a diagram which shows the Fifth hole, where Candidate Trump has been said to be. The would be assassin is said to have occupied his position for 12 hours. It is not know if this is the first time or the 20th time he was there.

The rifle appears to be an SKS with a telescopic sight attached.  It is either a variant which took AK47 magazines or has one of the aftermarket 30 round semi-fixed magazines attached.

The SKS is a good service rifle, but was not designed as a sniper rifle. A retired firearm instructor who has an SKS with an attached scope says it is a reliable 3 minute of angle rifle. This means, in ideal conditions, a skilled rifleman can keep shots inside a three inch diameter circle at 100 yards.  Modern, easily available rifles can keep their shots withing a .75 inch circle at 100 yards. With a little care, off the shelf rifles, scopes and ammunition can be found which will keep their shots inside .5 inches at 100 yards. Such a set up can be found for about $600-$1,000 and up.

Using Google maps and the measuring utility, Trump on the Fifth hole green would have been about 285 yards from the approximate sniper position. On the sixth hole tee, he would have been about 333 yards from the sniper position. On the sixth hole green, he would have been about 50 yards from the sniper position. If the sniper had been undetected, and Trump had played through to the seventh hole green, he would have been about 162 yards from the sniper position. As you can see from Google maps, Trump may not have been visible to a would be sniper when Trump was at the fifth hole green. Such visibility would have to be determined from the exact location of the sniper, and would depend on the local obstacles such as trees. The distances could vary by 10-15 yards depending on the exact location of the sniper position, and potentially, Trump, both of which are approximate, but probably within 10 yards.

 USGS satellite database. Text added by Dean Weingarten

The would be assassin might have hoped to make his shot from 50 yards. Perhaps a lack of field craft led him to hang the rectangular armor carriers/packs on the fence. They would attract attention. If an obvious rifle muzzle is sticking through the fence below them, it would attract fire. Much could be learned from detailed and high resolution photographs of the scene.

Analysis: The would be assassin was not skilled or well trained. With a little more luck, he could have been effective.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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