Ex-employee of Trump shooting suspect recalls standoff and ‘stupid’ antics

A woman from North Carolina has recalled her experiences working for Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump while he played golf on Sunday. Tina Cooper, 58, who used to work for Routh at United Roofing based in Greensboro, remarked that she hadn’t thought much about him since he abruptly terminated her employment nearly two decades ago.

Routh, now 58, has been taken into custody for allegedly aiming an AK47-style rifle through the fence at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. According to an FBI statement, this action is believed to be an attempted assassination of the former president.

Cooper had been hired to help with Routh’s roofing business and recalled times when he would lend her one of his cars, as he had lost his driving privileges in 2002. They shared a working relationship that rapidly evolved as she became more involved with his personal and business affairs.

Notably, Routh’s criminal past dates back to the early 1980s. In 2002, he faced significant legal issues when he was involved in a standoff with police. After being pulled over for driving without a license, he fled to his company’s office, where he barricaded himself with a fully automatic machine gun. After three hours, he surrendered but faced multiple charges, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

According to Cooper, his threats during this standoff included an intention to blow up the Greensboro Police Department, which was documented in police reports. Despite these serious charges, Routh received a suspended sentence and was placed on probation, avoiding prison time altogether.

In a reflection on Routh’s past, Tracy Fulk, the officer who arrested him during the standoff, expressed surprise that Routh was still at large and continuing to engage in reckless behavior. Fulk noted that Routh had been engaged in several similar incidents and that his history included numerous offenses related to driving, including multiple DUIs. In 2010, he was arrested for possessive stolen property and ultimately served a sentence of probation yet again.

Cooper’s experience with Routh was mixed. She described him as a “good guy” who focused mainly on running his business and supporting his employees. She handled various responsibilities, from managing payroll to taking care of Routh’s children. However, their relationship soured after an incident involving a car belonging to Routh, which led to her unexpected dismissal in 2004.

Despite the fallout, Cooper previously witnessed Routh performing charitable acts, such as gathering volunteers from his church to repair a local resident’s house. She remembered Routh’s sentiment, that everyone deserved better living conditions, a stark contrast to the legal troubles he later encountered.

In recent developments, following his arrest for attempting to attack Trump, Routh has drawn attention once more. Cooper expressed disbelief, questioning what drives individuals to commit such reckless acts, given Routh’s previously productive and helpful character.

Moving away from North Carolina in 2018, Routh attempted to focus on building affordable housing, but Cooper shared that she has lost contact with him since then. Despite their tumultuous past, Cooper found it difficult to reconcile Routh’s past good deeds with his recent alleged actions.

“He done what he could for people,” she recalled, puzzled by the drastic change in Routh’s behavior. “What drives people to do stupid s*** in this day and time? I mean, come on now.”