An armed guy was captured outside Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Coachella, California, raising worries of another assassination attempt with only three weeks till the election.
Vem Miller, 49, was arrested shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, local time, after being stopped at a checkpoint near the former president’s event in Coachella, California.
He reportedly showed false VIP credentials and was discovered in possession of a shotgun, a loaded revolver, and a high-capacity magazine in his vehicle.
Local law officials said the incident was ‘possibly’ a third assassination attempt after Trump was shot in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, and an armed suspect attempted to kill him at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf club in September.
However, a source close to the Trump campaign minimized the threat, saying that the gunman was caught before posing any risk.
“This incident had no impact on the safety of former President Trump or event attendees,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office maintained in a statement.
However, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told one media source, ‘We probably stopped another assassination attempt.’
Bianco, a noted Trump supporter, told the outlet that Miller presented bogus VIP and press permits at the border, prompting the search.
On Sunday, Bianco revealed that he had three passports and driver’s licenses with various identities in his automobile.
He further backed down, claiming, “I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt,” and labeling Miller a political distraught.
He stated that his office works closely with the FBI and the United States. Secret service.
When law officials searched Miller’s black SUV on Saturday, they discovered that he was in illegal possession of firearms, magazines, and ammunition.
He was arrested at John Benoit Detention Center, posted $10,000 bail ($5,000 for each of the two misdemeanors he was charged with), and was released from detention on Sunday.
Miller’s next court appearance is planned for January 2.
“There was no assassination attempt in California yesterday,” a source close to Trump’s team informed one media outlet. ‘A man at a perimeter checkpoint had a gun, but nothing happened.’
The latest development comes as Trump’s security detail remained on high alert after two assassination attempts against the previous president.