With just 22 days until the U.S. presidential election, tensions surrounding former President Donald Trump’s campaign have continue to grow.
On Saturday, an armed man was arrested near a Trump rally in Coachella Valley, marking the second potential assassination attempt in recent months.
The suspect, 49-year-old Vem Miller from Las Vegas, was apprehended at a police checkpoint approximately half a mile from the rally entrance.
Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco, confirmed that Miller was found with a loaded shotgun, handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.
“On October 12, 2024, at 4:59 p.m., deputies assigned to the event stopped the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint near Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive,” Bianco explained in a statement.
Miller, who also carried fake passes for the rally, was arrested without resistance and later booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possessing firearms and ammunition.
Although officials stated that there was no immediate threat to Trump or the rally attendees, Sheriff Bianco remarked, “We likely prevented another assassination attempt.”
This incident follows an earlier attempt on Trump’s life during a rally, where a bullet grazed his ear before security intervened.
In another alarming event in September, gunshots were fired near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, prompting Secret Service to evacuate him.
As the election draws near, security has been tightened around Trump’s appearances, reflecting growing concerns about his safety.
