A Florida jury on Tuesday found 59-year-old Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump during a golf outing last year. The verdict marks one of the most serious cases of political violence in recent US history.

The incident occurred on September 15, 2024, when Trump, then the Republican presidential nominee, was playing golf at his course in West Palm Beach, just minutes from his Mar-a-Lago residence. Armed with multiple firearms, Routh attempted to carry out the attack before being apprehended by federal officers.

The jury convicted him on multiple counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and three federal firearms offenses. Routh, who represented himself during the trial overseen by Judge Aileen Cannon in the Southern District of Florida, now faces a potential life sentence at his upcoming sentencing hearing.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised the verdict, stating, “Today’s guilty verdict against would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence. This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our president, but an affront to our very nation itself.”

Trump, reacting on social media, called the ruling “a very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA.”

The case comes just over a year after another attempt on Trump’s life in Pennsylvania, where he was grazed in the ear by a bullet during a campaign rally. Both incidents underscored heightened concerns over political violence in the United States ahead of the 2024 election.