Police Foil Another Assassination Attempt on Former President, Donald Trump
For the third time within a single year, former American President Donald Trump has escaped yet another assasination last weekend
By: Olufemi Orunsola
A third assassination attempt on former American President, Donald Trump was successfully foiled last weekend during his campaign rally in Coachella Valley, California.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA OTN News gathered that authorities arrested a Las Vegas man found armed with weapons and fake credentials just half a mile from the event, as confirmed by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
OTN News reports that the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Vem Miller, was stopped at a checkpoint by deputies at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive around 5 p.m. Miller was driving a black SUV and was discovered to be in illegal possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.
Sheriff Bianco indicated that Miller is associated with a right-wing anti-government group and likely intended to harm Trump. The arrest occurred after Miller presented suspicious VIP and press passes at the checkpoint, which raised immediate concerns among law enforcement officers.
According to Bianco, "They were different enough to cause the deputies alarm,” noting that “We probably stopped another assassination attempt.”
OTN News further gathered that the arrested suspect, Miller, is a registered Republican and a graduate of UCLA with a master’s degree, previously ran for the Nevada state assembly in 2022. He identifies as part of the sovereign citizen movement, a group that denies the legitimacy of government authority unless personally consented to.
The Sheriff’s Department had established a double perimeter around the rally site, closely monitoring the area to ensure the safety of the attendees and the former president. Bianco expressed his surprise at the incident, saying, “I thought it’s not going to happen in Riverside County. We don’t have the same sicko issues and violent protests like they have in Los Angeles. We’re better than that. Go figure".
The Police Chief praised his deputies for their swift action, particularly as they worked under sweltering conditions near 100 degrees. The U.S. Secret Service commended the Sheriff’s Department for their exemplary efforts in protecting Trump and rally attendees.
Miller has been booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine but was released on $5,000 bail. His court appearance is set for January 2, 2025, at the Indio Larson Justice Center.
OTN News also gathered that there was another incident at the rally, involving a man who was questioned by the FBI after bomb-detecting dogs alerted to his presence. While the individual was denied entry, further details about the incident have not yet been disclosed.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Secret Service issued a statement acknowledging the incident, affirming that it did not affect their protective operations. “The Secret Service extends its gratitude to the deputies and local partners who assisted in safeguarding last night’s events,” the statement read.
OTN News recalls that there were two previous attempts on the life of Donald Trump namely September attempt by one Ryan Wesley Routh who was charged after being found with a high-powered rifle near Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, while in July, Matthew Crooks fired an AR-15-style rifle at Trump during a Pennsylvania rally, resulting in chaos and fatalities.
There has been strategic revamps of the security architecture around Trump's campaigns and public appearances as he has reportedly been using a bullet proof glass shield during campaign rallies.
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