Man with Guns Arrested Near Trump Rally in California, Released Later
A man named Vem Miller, 49 years old, was arrested near a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California, on Saturday.
According to the police, he was caught with a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine while driving an SUV.
Miller was stopped at a security checkpoint and taken into custody. However, he was later released, and he told US media that he is a Trump supporter who had no intention of harming the Republican presidential candidate.
The police and the US Secret Service said Trump was never in danger, as confirmed by BBC reports.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who supports Trump, said that while they can’t know for sure what Miller was planning, he believed the police may have stopped a potential assassination attempt.
He referred to Miller as a “lunatic” but admitted it would be hard to prove this was Miller’s intent. BBC noted that this incident didn’t affect Trump’s safety or the rally.
Miller was charged with two misdemeanor weapons charges and released on $5,000 bail. He denied any plans to harm Trump, saying he always carries guns in his car but never fires them. BBC reports that no federal charges have been filed, but the investigation continues.
The incident took place around 5 PM on Saturday and brought attention once again to the heavy security surrounding Trump. According to BBC, this comes after two other assassination attempts against Trump earlier this year, increasing concerns about his safety.
Miller’s online presence, as investigated by BBC, shows that he is a strong Trump supporter and right-wing activist. He regularly attends pro-Trump rallies and posts about conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, vaccines, and even the weather.
BBC also highlighted that Miller has expressed violent views online, particularly against Democrats, accusing them of “treason” over Hurricane Helene’s response.
This situation underscores the growing security challenges around Trump, just weeks before the upcoming election.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gqyezwj7lo