Local law enforcement in California believe they may have thwarted a third assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump this weekend.
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies who were part of the former president’s protective detail on Saturday in Coachella Valley, where Trump held a rally, said they apprehended a 49-year-old man who was in possession of a shotgun, loaded handgun and a high-capacity magazine.
The sheriff told local California press on Sunday that the man was also in possession of a fake ticket to the event.
Law enforcement grew suspicious when the individual presented a VIP and press pass for the event that did not match official documents.
The suspect, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was driving a black SUV that was stopped by deputies assigned to the rally in Coachella, east of Los Angeles, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
Law enforcement identified the individual as Vem Miller, a registered Republican from Las Vegas. Miller was taken into custody for possession of a loaded firearm.
The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine, the department said.
“This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event,” the statement said.
He was released Saturday on $5,000 bail.
The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 2, 2025, according to online records.
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