Third assassination bid on Trump thwarted, man posing as journalist arrested with loaded arms in Coachella

Another assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump was prevented on Saturday night after a 49-year-old Nevada man with a shotgun, loaded handgun, and high capacity magazine, was arrested approximately half a mile from Trump’s rally in the Southern California desert.

How was the suspect arrested?

The suspect, identified as Vem Miller from Las Vegas, was spotted by Riverside County deputies driving an unregistered black SUV with a “homemade” license plate around 5 pm (local time) close to Trump’s rally site in Coachella, east of Los Angeles, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said during a news conference Sunday afternoon.

As per cops, he was carrying several fake passports, a phony-entry pass and a forged press card.  

Reports mentioned that Miller passed through an initial security checkpoint by furnishing false VIP and media credentials.

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Suspect claimed to be a journalist

Bianco informed that Miller claimed to be a journalist but it was unclear if he had the proper credentials.  

Deputies noticed the interior of the vehicle was “in disarray” and a search uncovered the weapons and ammo, along with multiple passports and driver licenses with different names, Bianco said.

“I truly do believe we prevented another assassination attempt," Binaco said, who also described Miller as a “lunatic".

He further said that the markings on Miller’s license plate suggested he might be part of the “sovereign citizens” movement, a right-wing group that rejects the legitimacy of the US government.  

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Miller was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine, the department said in a statement.

“This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event,” the Saturday statement said. Trump had not yet arrived at the rally at the time of the arrest, the sheriff said Sunday.

Bianco, meanwhile, declined to speculate about the suspect’s motives or frame of mind. “We know we prevented something bad from happening, and it was irrelevant what that bad was going to be," Bianco said.

The Secret Service, meanwhile, said that it was aware of the arrest and that neither Trump nor rally attendees had not been in any danger during the incident.

“While no federal arrest has been made at this time, the investigation is ongoing,” the organisation tasked with protecting presidents and presidential candidates said in a joint statement with the FBI and the US Attorney’s office.

Miller denies allegations

Miller, however, denied any intent to harm Trump. Speaking to Southern California News Group, he said, “These accusations are complete bull****. I’m an artist, I’m the last person that would cause any violence and harm to anybody."  

He also claimed to be a Trump supporter.

Suspect released on bail

Miller, however, was released the same day on $5,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025 at the Indio Larson Justice Center.  

The sheriff suggested that federal authorities could bring any additional charges.

Security has been heightened at Trump rallies following two recent assassination attempts. In September, a man was indicted on an attempted assassination charge after authorities said he staked out the former president for 12 hours and wrote of his desire to kill him.  

The Florida arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

With inputs from agencies.