A man carrying two firearms and a high-capacity magazine was arrested near former President Donald Trump's rally in Coachella on Saturday. According to reports, the suspect—49-year-old Las Vegas resident Vem Miller—told deputies he planned to assassinate Trump. This would be the third assassination attempt on the former President. The arrest was carried out at a checkpoint close to Celebration Drive and Avenue 52 by Riverside County Sheriff's officials. When Miller was discovered inside an SUV, authorities became concerned because he was attempting to utilize fake press and VIP cards.
According to Sheriff Chad Bianco, the fake passes seemed dubious. Upon searching the car, deputies found a shotgun, a pistol, and a large-capacity magazine. Miller was arrested right away and charged with having a loaded gun and a large capacity magazine in the John J. Benoit Detention Center.
Miller holds a master's degree from UCLA and is a registered Republican, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. He was a candidate in the 2022 Nevada state assembly and is connected to an anti-government organization with a right-leaning affiliation. Sheriff Bianco emphasized the seriousness of the matter by pointing out that Miller's arrest most likely stopped a possible assassination attempt.
Miller is due to appear before the Indio Larson Justice Center on January 2, 2025, after being freed on $5,000 bond. Following the incident, the Secret Service released a statement reiterating that the event's protection procedures remained intact. Protective activities were not impacted by the event. The deputies and local partners who helped to secure Friday night's festivities are much appreciated by the Secret Service, the agency stated.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a press statement on Sunday that both Trump and rally attendees were safe and that the attempted breach had been stopped. While the investigation is ongoing, the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station's Deputy Coronado is asking anybody with information regarding the event to call (760) 836–1600.