WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A man who authorities say staked out Donald Trump for 12 hours on his golf course in Florida and wrote of his desire to kill him was indicted Tuesday on charges that he attempted to assassinate a major presidential candidate.
Ryan Wesley Routh had been initially charged with two federal firearms offenses. The upgraded charges reflect the Justice Department's assessment that he methodically plotted to kill the Republican nominee, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery surrounding Trump's West Palm Beach golf course on an afternoon Trump was playing on it.
Routh left behind a note in which he described his intention.
The letter was addressed "Dear World" and was left in a box at an undisclosed location months ago.
The letter read, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you." It ended with a bounty on the former president.
Routh has several ties to Greensboro, North Carolina.
Voter registration records show Routh is registered to vote in North Carolina and has a Greensboro address listed.
The Department of Adult Corrections website shows Routh has a lengthy criminal history in Guilford County, going back to 2002.
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