Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois House District 49 candidate Hannah Billingsley reacted to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, saying, "Every person was created in the image of God and deserves respect," in a Sept. 16 Facebook post.

"The second assassination attempt on President Trump is a stark reminder of the importance of humanizing one another, regardless of our political differences," said Billingsley, according to Facebook. "Every person—whether a candidate or someone we deeply disagree with—was created in the image of God and deserves respect. There are no ‘bad' people, just bad ideas. Aristotle promoted this idea: ‘It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.'"

A Sept. 15 article from the Chicago Sun-Times reported that former President Donald Trump was safe after a second attempted assassination, according to the FBI. The incident occurred at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club. The shooter has been taken into custody, and according to the news article, Secret Service agents were a few holes away from Trump when they saw an AK-style rifle muzzle sticking out of the shrubs about 400 yards away. An agent fired and the suspect dropped his gun and fled. He also left behind a GoPro camera, a scope, and two backpacks. Law enforcement stopped him in another county. Following the incident, former President Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago.

Screenshot of Hannah Billingsley's Sept. 16 Facebook post | Vote Hannah For Illinois Facebook page

According to CNN, former President Trump praised a civilian who spotted and reported Routh as he tried to flee the scene. Law enforcement used the civilian’s flag to locate Routh’s vehicle as he drove north in Marin County. "The civilian did a phenomenal job. How many people would have the brainpower to follow him [in] the back of his truck? … And the key was the license. So they got the license, and after they had the license, you know, there’s all sorts of technology where they can literally pinpoint where this truck is," said Trump in a livestreamed conversation on X.

The suspect has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58. According to NBC News, Routh has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The outlet reveals that Routh did not fire his weapon at the Secret Service agents or at Trump. Ronald Rowe, acting director of the Secret Service, said that former President Trump was moving through the fifth fairway around 1:30 p.m., when the Secret Service agent discovered and fired at Routh. Trump was not in Routh’s line of sight.

Billingsley is a former teacher and small business owner who lives in West Chicago. She also runs a short-term rental business with nine units that average 82% occupancy, according to her official biography. Her political career includes time as a Zoning Commissioner for her West Chicago community, and she has also formed a monthly coalition that picks up litter in her area called Litter Quitters.