Authorities identified the second suspect in Sunday’s incident as Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old white man with ties to North Carolina in the past and currently living in Hawaii. Police sources cited by multiple outlets describe him as having worked in construction, and his public statements on social media and in interviews show a consistent opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine alongside sharp criticism of former President Trump.
In a 2020 Twitter post, Routh expressed frustration with the 2016 Republican candidate while signaling intermittent support for the party. In 2019 he contributed to a political action committee that backs progressive causes and Democratic candidates. During the ongoing Republican primary season, he urged Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy to remain in the race.
“Democracy is on the ballots”
Following an earlier failed effort against the Republican candidate and just over two months prior, Routh wrote on X urging President Biden and Vice President Harris to visit the wounded at a Pennsylvania rally and to attend the funeral of a firefighter who died there. He argued that leadership should include visible acts of solidarity, suggesting that such gestures were not typical for Trump.
Earlier in April, he targeted the Biden team, tagging the presidential account while criticizing Trump. He urged the campaign to respond with actions that emphasize sovereignty for Americans rather than slogans, stressing the importance of democracy in upcoming elections and warning against a potential loss. He urged the United States to chart a clear path forward for the world.
Ukraine
Routh’s stance on the war in Ukraine appeared in his online activity. In 2022 he called for a tougher approach toward the Kremlin and volunteered to fight alongside Kyiv, saying he would fight and die if necessary. In 2023 he posted on a social platform encouraging foreign fighters to join the conflict and suggested connecting with Afghan soldiers, presenting himself as a loose link to Kyiv’s government. That year he was interviewed by a major newspaper as part of a piece about Americans volunteering to fight in Ukraine, with reports noting that he had traveled to the country despite lacking formal military experience.
His online activity across platforms reveals sustained interest in Eastern Europe’s crisis. He argued that civilians should work to influence the war’s course and help prevent future conflicts, a sentiment he shared through messaging apps. His profile on a messaging service carried a statement about everyday efforts to support human rights, freedom, and democracy, and it referenced a broader cooperative stance that included support for Taiwan within a challenging regional dialogue.
Other issues and the perspective of his son
Routh’s record includes run-ins with the law dating back to the 1990s. While living in North Carolina before moving to Hawaii around 2017 or 2018, he faced arrests related to drug possession or driving without a license and encountered tax issues. The most serious incident preceding Sunday involved a 2002 confrontation with police: after placing a hand on a firearm during a traffic stop, he fled and barricaded himself inside a business for several hours, as reported by local media at the time.
Routh’s eldest son, Oran, has spoken with major outlets, including CNN and The Guardian, asserting that his father volunteered in Ukraine. In a message to a television network, he described his father as an honest man who works hard and defended him as a loving parent. He stressed that he did not recognize the man capable of rash or violent actions, and he expressed concern that events in Florida might be exaggerated, noting that he did not fully know what happened there.
Attributions indicate information was compiled from police statements, court records, and interviews conducted by national media outlets. These sources note how events were reported and corroborated by multiple outlets to provide a comprehensive view of the subject’s public statements and actions.