Would-be Trump assassin’s sniper’s nest revealed: Photos show AK-47 rifle, GoPro and backpack in hidden spot https://t.co/3cUeMNeMJQ pic.twitter.com/NcKheNOqNQ
— New York Post (@nypost) September 15, 2024
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 at 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 breach 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 that 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 unknown if this is the first or 20th time he has been there.
The rifle appears to be an SKS with a telescopic sight attached. It is either a variant that took AK47 magazines or has one of the aftermarket 30-round semi-fixed magazines attached.
The SKS is a good service rifle but it was not designed as a sniper rifle. A retired firearm instructor with an SKS and an attached scope says it is a reliable 3-MOA rifle. In ideal conditions, a skilled rifleman can keep shots inside a three-inch diameter circle at 100 yards. Modern, readily available rifles can keep their shots within 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 setup 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. He would have been about 333 yards from the sniper on the sixth-hole tee. Trump would have been about 50 yards from the sniper position on the sixth-hole green. 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 the USGS satellite image, the former president may not have been visible to a would-be sniper when he 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.
The would-be assassin might have hoped to make his shot from 50 yards. Perhaps a lack of fieldcraft 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.
The would-be assassin was not skilled or well-trained, but with a little more luck, he could have been effective.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
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