Who is Markenzy Lapointe? Internet reacts as prosecutor handling Trump’s assassination attempt case is Haitian-born American

Florida U.S. attorney Markenzy Lapointe was recently appointed as prosecutor in Trump's assassination attempt case. On Sunday, September 15, cops apprehended Ryan Wesley Routh after he was spotted with a rifle at the former president's West Palm Beach golf course.

Per his profile on the Justice Department's website, Markenzy Lapointe is a U.S. Marine Gulf War veteran. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he immigrated to the country as a teenager with his mother and siblings.

The news comes just days after Trump and several Republican politicians spread misinformation about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, accusing them of eating pets.

As news of Lapointe's appointment spread, internet users were quick to react. Many remarked it was poetic, calling it karma.

"Little twist in the plot. having some fun with this chapter," one user wrote. "Ohh the karma," @mjgchick added.

"Life is so poetic, its like it was designed to be so, " another commented.

Netizens continued to comment that it was ironic for a Haitian man to prosecute the Republican presidential nominee's would-be assassin. "Sometimes irony is sharp as a blade..." a user commented.

"I wonder how he was able to be successful? Dont we all have an average IQ of 65??? ," @BavBoyKaj sarcastically wrote.

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Markenzy Lapointe, who is overseeing Trump's assassination case, is the first Haitian-born to serve as an American lawyer

Per his profile on the Justice Department's website, Lapointe is the first Haitian-born to serve as a U.S. attorney. President Joe Biden nominated him in 2022 and was sworn into office for the Southern District of Florida in January 2023.

After immigrating to the United States, Lapointe lived in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood. According to an article by Common Dreams, he skipped his high school graduation to sign up for the Marines. He was a reserve and served during the Gulf War. After returning, he earned degrees in finance and law at Florida State University.

Per his LinkedIn profile, Lapointe began working as a law clerk to the Honorable Harry Lee Anstead at the Florida Supreme Court. He later served as an assistant US attorney to the Southern District of Florida for four years. The Haiti native also worked at the Miami offices of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP (initially litigation associate, later partner) and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (partner).

Throughout his career, Markenzy Lapointe handled several pro bono cases. His work earned him the Legal Aid/Put Something Back Pro Bono Award in Child Advocacy and the Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyer Award for Pro Bono in Family Law.

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According to the Springfield News-Sun, the pet abduction and eating began making its rounds online earlier this month. During the presidential debate on September 10, Donald Trump, too, claimed:

"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats, they're eating the pets of the people that live there. This is what's happening in our country."

Several Republican politicians, including Trump's running mate, JD Vance, and Texas senator Ted Cruz, took to social media to fan the rumors. Soon AI-generated images of Trump saving pets began circulating. However, several Springfield officials, including Mayor Rob Rue, refuted all claims.

Ryan Routh was apprehended after a Secret Service guy spotted his gun in the bushes at Trump's golf course. He is charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.