Trump campaign says candidate safe after gunshots reported near him in Florida

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was safe after gunshots were reported near him Sunday afternoon in Florida, his campaign and the Secret Service said.

It was not immediately clear whether the reported gunfire was aimed at the Republican presidential candidate.

The U.S. Secret Service said it was investigating and that the incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. “The former president is safe and sound,” the Secret Service said.

About two months ago, Trump was shot in an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, with a bullet grazing his ear.

Trump returned to Florida over the weekend after a West Coast tour that included a rally Friday night in Las Vegas and a fundraiser in Utah.

The campaign did not immediately provide further details.

No injuries were reported, according to a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.

A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation said authorities were trying to determine whether the shots were fired near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach or on the grounds. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Trump often spends the morning playing golf, before having lunch at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, one of three he owns in the state.

Since the assassination attempt on Trump in July, security measures have been stepped up. When he is at Trump Tower in New York, a row of dump trucks is parked in front of a wall outside the building. And at outdoor rallies, he now speaks behind a bulletproof glass enclosure.

A message to campaign officials seeking information on the security status and whereabouts of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, did not immediately receive a response.

Max Egusquiza of Palm Beach described the emergency response outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach.

“From what I saw, five unmarked black SUVs were jammed into a gray Mercedes in front of the golf course. There were about 20 or more police cars taking off from nearby streets,” he said.

Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.