GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Greensboro suspect in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump now faces formal federal charges with more pending.
58-year-old Ryan Routh made his first court appearance Monday morning in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida. He received charges of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The FBI arrested Routh on Sunday after Secret Service agents saw the muzzle of an AK-47-style rifle pointing through shrubbery toward the former President Trump as Trump golfed on one of his courses.
Trump is safe and thanking Secret Service for quick action.
Many questions remain about Routh. Investigators say he currently lives in Hawaii, but for years, he lived, studied, worked, and committed crimes in Greensboro.
According to public records, Routh owned a company called United Roofing. WFMY News 2 went by the property on Husbands Street, which appeared to be unoccupied for some time. Neighbors and businesses in the area said they haven't seen anyone at the listed address in years, but said the company used the property to dump trash.
Court documents show several legal battles United Roofing has been in. Many people have sued the business in years past.
Routh owned many properties through Guilford County. WFMY News 2's Amber Lake drove to several of those properties and many appear abandoned. Neighbors at those properties said they haven't seen anyone come by in years.
Voter registration records show Routh is registered to vote in North Carolina and listed a Greensboro address. WFMY News 2 went to that address, where a neighbor said Routh lived, but moved out in May.
Routh lived in Greensboro before moving to Hawaii with his son to operate a shed-building company.
Tim Bryson told WFMY News 2 he attended Guilford Junior High (now Guilford Middle) and Western Guilford High with Routh. We have reached out to Guilford County Schools to determine where Routh attended and are awaiting a response.
Bryson said Routh was social and had friends, but he wasn't "overly popular." Years later, Bryson said he ran into Routh at a coffee shop, and the pair agreed to work on building a house together in 2001.
Bryson, who owns a residential and commercial design company, hired Routh at the time and said he "didn't cause any trouble." He also said he was shocked to see Routh's name and picture plastered across news stations Sunday.
"I would never in a million years ... He would never have struck me as somebody that tried to shoot the president, ever," Bryson said.
WFMY News 2 obtained footage from 2002 where Routh was accused of barricading himself in a home in Guilford County. He was charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
Routh has a long criminal history in North Carolina, according to the Department of Adult Corrections website - from hit-and-run to possession of stolen goods.
CBS News found several social media profiles that appear to be connected to Routh. He posted a lot about politics, but never seemed to post any threats. Routh did, however, post quite a bit about the war in Ukraine, hoping to raise money and recruit volunteers to go over and help fight against Russia.
Records also show Routh divorced a few years back and has three adult children. A neighbor of Routh's ex-wife told WFMY News 2 she left town Monday morning after being inundated with interview requests from local media.
Routh attended North Carolina A&T State University for two semesters but did not graduate. He was last enrolled in December 1995, according to the university.
WFMY News 2 is continuing to learn more about Routh's connections to Greensboro.
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