Ryan W. Routh, suspected of attempting to assassinate Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course, stands handcuffed after his arrest during a traffic stop near Palm City, Florida, Sept. 15, 2024.

WASHINGTON ‒ President Donald Trump thanked the judge and the jury and commended the Justice Department after would-be assassin Ryan Routh was found guilty of trying to kill Trump at one of his Florida golf courses last year.

"I'm very appreciative of the justice that was given and the way it was handled by (Attorney General) Pam Bondi and (Deputy Attorney General) Todd Blanche and everybody," Trump told reporters on Sept. 23 while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Routh, 59, was convicted in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, a charge carrying a possible sentence of life in prison. The 12-person jury also found him guilty of assaulting a federal officer and several weapons violations. The case was tried before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee.

"You can't let things like that happen. Nothing to do with me, but a president or even a person ‒ you can't allow that to happen. And so, justice was served, and we'll see what happens," Trump said. "But I very much appreciate the judge and jury, and everybody on that. It was so professionally handled. It's a great honor."

Routh's guilty verdict came just over a year after authorities said Routh perched himself outside the fence of Trump International Golf Club with a rifle on Sept. 15, 2024, and waited over 11 hours for Trump to walk into his line of sight. Prosecutors said the plot was thwarted by a U.S. Secret Service agent who spotted Routh and opened fire, leading him to drop his rifle and flee. Routh was arrested less than an hour later.

The incident came about a month after Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet during a separate near-assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.

Trump, in a post on his social media app Truth Social shortly after the verdict, congratulated Bondi and Blanche on the conviction and thanked the Secret Service agent who spotted Routh running from the site of the crime.

"This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him," Trump wrote. "A very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA!

After the verdict was read, Routh appeared to try to stab himself in the neck with a pen before multiple U.S. Marshals tackled him and dragged him from the courtroom.

Contributing: Christopher Cann, Julius Whigham II and Hannah Phillips of the USA TODAY Network

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump says 'justice was served' after would-be assassin Ryan Routh found guilty

Reporting by Joey Garrison, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect