California Sheriff: ‘We Probably Stopped Another Assassination Attempt On Trump’

A third assassination attempt against President Trump was thwarted on Saturday.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco reported a man driving a black SUV attempted to present a fake VIP pass at a checkpoint at Trump’s rally in Coachella, California.

Deputies soon after searched for the vehicle and discovered the man was in illegal possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.

Sheriff Bianco shared, “We probably stopped another assassination attempt.”

The suspect has been identified as Vem Miller and has been taken into custody “on suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.”

Third Trump assassination attempt thwarted when armed man arrested outside Coachella rally, sheriff says https://t.co/IpVUbrxcDk pic.twitter.com/Yq7GLjjSB3

— New York Post (@nypost) October 13, 2024

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco "We probably stopped another assassination attempt against Trump" pic.twitter.com/QNmxUyHkl1

— Anthony Scott (@AnthonyScottTGP) October 13, 2024

Per Los Angeles Daily News:

A third assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump was thwarted on Saturday after a Las Vegas man was arrested with weapons and fake passes about a half mile from Trump’s campaign rally in Coachella Valley, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Sunday.

Deputies assigned to Trump’s rally said the driver, Vem Miller, rolled up in a black SUV to a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive around 5 p.m. He was found to be in illegal possession of a shotgun, loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

Bianco told the Southern California News Group on Sunday that he believes Miller — who he said is a member of a right–leaning anti-government group — planned to kill Trump and that deputies thwarted the plan when Miller presented fake VIP and press passes at a checkpoint.

“They were different enough to cause the deputies alarm,” Bianco said. “We probably stopped another assassination attempt.”

Miller is a registered Republican who holds a master’s degree from UCLA, and who ran for state assembly in Nevada in 2022.

Bianco said Miller considers himself a so-called sovereign citizen, a group of people who do not believe they are subject to any government statutes unless they consent to them.

Trump targeted in THIRD 'assassination attempt' as gunman arrested outside Coachella rally https://t.co/NWASmKywUk pic.twitter.com/SxAmh79YK4

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) October 13, 2024

Per KTLA:

A man was arrested outside of a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Southern California, and multiple guns were illegally in his possession, according to authorities.

The arrest took place at a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive in Coachella at 4:59 p.m. on Saturday, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said. The rally was scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

The driver of a black SUV, who was later identified as 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, was found to be in illegal possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.

Miller was then taken into custody and booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.

According to the Riverside County Inmate Information System, Miller was released from the detention center Sunday on $5,000 bail.

The Sheriff’s Office said the incident had no impact on the safety of rally attendees or former President Trump.