Chaos erupted inside a Florida courtroom on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, when Ryan Routh, the man who attempted to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump in September 2024, began stabbing himself in the neck with a pen moments after being found guilty on all charges.

 

Jurors had just delivered a unanimous verdict when Routh, 59, suddenly attacked himself, prompting gasps and panic in the packed courtroom. His daughter, Sarah Ellen Routh, screamed expletives before breaking down in tears and storming out. His son, Adam Routh, was also seen leaving immediately after the verdict.

 

Routh was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, last year after Secret Service agents discovered him hiding in bushes near one of Trump’s golf courses, where Trump was playing a round. Authorities recovered a gun and a camera at the scene.

 

The jury convicted Routh of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, felony possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and assaulting a federal officer. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 18.

 

Trump praised Attorney General Pam Bondi and her team for the successful prosecution, saying in a statement: “The trial was meticulously handled, and I would like to thank the Judge and Jury for their time, professionalism, and patience. This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him.”