Man arrested with guns near Trump rally, denies he was attempting assassination

Authorities in California arrested a man prior to former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley, but the suspect said Sunday night he is a Trump supporter and was not attempting an assassination.

The man arrested Saturday evening is Vem Miller, 49, from Las Vegas. He was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun and a high-capacity magazine, authorities said.

He was released on a $5,000 bail.

“We probably stopped another assassination attempt,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said, according to Riverside Press-Enterprise.

But Miller told Fox News on Sunday night “I'm 100% a Trump supporter” and was not trying to kill the former president.

Miller said he considers himself a member of the news media and only carried guns after getting death threats.

“I've literally never even shot a gun in my life," Miller told Fox. "I don't know anything about guns. I am beyond a novice.”

He also denied reports that he possessed fake identifications  

Miller was arrested just before 5 p.m. local time Saturday when deputies assigned to the rally contacted the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint. 

"This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event," the Riverside Sheriff's Office said in a statement.