Man with loaded gun arrested near Trump's Coachella rally, sheriff says
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Republican presidential candidate former President Trump during a campaign rally at Calhoun Ranch in Coachella, California, on Saturday. Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
A man arrested at a security checkpoint near former President Trump's Coachella rally was found with guns and fake press and VIP credentials, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said Sunday.
The big picture: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said at a Sunday afternoon briefing that his deputies "probably prevented" a "third assassination attempt" on the Republican presidential candidate's life.
Driving the news: Sheriff's deputies stopped the suspect, identified as Vem Miller, 49, of Las Vegas, Nevada, in a black SUV just before 5pm Saturday local time, per an online statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
- The suspect "was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine," according to the statement.
- The suspect claimed at the outside perimeter that he was a journalist and that he had "VIP status," but sheriff's deputies assigned to Trump's Coachella rally found the driver at the inside perimeter had multiple passports and that the vehicle was unregistered, Bianco said.
- Evidence from a fake license plate of the unregistered vehicle indicates that Miller is affiliated with the sovereign citizen movement, which the FBI designates as "anti-government extremists," Bianco said.
- Federal and county officials said the incident did not impact the safety of Trump nor attendees of the event.
Zoom in: "Miller was taken into custody without incident and later booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine," according to the the Riverside County Sheriff's Office statement.
- Miller was released on $5,000 bail, per the Riverside County Inmate Information System.
- Bianco said his office was working with the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI and that while they arrested and booked the suspect on firearms charges, "anything further will come from the federal government."
What they're saying: The U.S. Attorneys Office, Secret Service and FBI said in a joint statement they're aware of the Coachella Trump rally arrest, which they said "did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger."
Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung in an emailed statement Sunday night said they're aware of reports about the arrest and were monitoring the situation and gathering more information.
- "We thank law enforcement for securing the rally site and helping ensure the safety of President Trump," Cheung said.
Zoom out: Trump has faced two previous assassination attempts during the 2024 election campaign.
- The Secret Service stepped up security after the first one occurred at his Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, which killed one Trump supporter and wounded two others as a bullet struck the former president's ear.
- Two months later, authorities said there had been a second attempt on Trump's life at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course, which authorities said ended without injury or a shot being fired by the suspect after a Secret Service agent intervened.
More from Axios:
- Trump's close call
- "Preventable" Secret Service failures led up to Trump shooting: Senate panel report
- Trump makes a dramatic return to Pennsylvania shooting scene
- Man accused of Trump assassination attempt will remain detained without bail
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
