Local authorities in California identified an armed man this Sunday at a rally for former US President Donald Trump in the Coachella Valley. The suspect presented a fake press card and VIP tickets and was already arrested and released.
He was identified as Vem Miller and was carrying several illegal weapons, the Riverside Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The inmate had a shotgun, a revolver and a high-capacity ammunition magazine in his car.
The 49-year-old was released after posting $5,000 bail and being intercepted by several officers as he passed through a security checkpoint near the site where Trump held the campaign event in his car.
The vehicle’s license plates, which were “obviously fake,” caught officers’ attention during the check, Bianco said, adding that they also found several passports and driving licenses with the names of different people at inside the vehicle.
According to Sheriff Chad Bianco, it was “probably” another assassination attempt, even if there was no attack or attempted attack against the Republican candidate. According to the statement sent, neither he nor the public were in danger at any time.
In July, a young man opened fire at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania, injuring him in the ear and killing an event attendee.
In early October, the Secret Service arrested a man armed with an AK-47 rifle near a Florida golf course where Trump was.
