The armed man detained near former President Donald Trump's rally at Coachella Valley claims he's a staunch supporter and "never" shot a gun in his life amid speculation of a potential assassination attempt.
“Yes, I’m 100% a Trump supporter,” Vem Miller, 49, told FOX News.
Miller's statement came after Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco claimed, "we probably stopped another assassination attempt," while discussing the detainment with the New York Post on Sunday (October 13). The suspect was reported to have had a loaded shotgun, handgun and high capacity magazine, as well as fake documents at the time he was stopped by police.
Miller claims he purchased the firearms after receiving death threats since launching his own website, America Happens Network, which claims to "rage against the mainstream media."
“I always travel around with my firearms in the back of my truck,” he told FOX News.
“I’ve literally never even shot a gun in my life,” he added. “I don’t know anything about guns. I am beyond a novice.”
Miller also denied reports of having fake documentation at the time of his arrest.
“None of those are fake,” he said, noting that he is Armenian and has some documents that use his full Armenian name and others that don't.
Trump previously survived two assassination attempts within a two-month span.
A Secret Service agent reportedly opened fire on a man spotted with an AK-47 assault rifle while Trump was playing golf at his West Palm Beach course in September. Ryan Routh was arrested that same day and charged two days later with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, added to previous charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Trump's right ear was grazed during the shooting and he was seen yelling "fight" to his supporters while being evacuated from the rally by Secret Service members during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July. One spectator, identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed during the incident while two others, David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, were initially critically wounded but later upgraded to stable condition.
The shooter, Thomas Crooks, was taken out by Secret Service agents within seconds from opening fire, though also reported to be on officials' radar as a suspicious person more than 90 minutes before opening fire. Trump officially accepted the Republican presidential nomination during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, days after the initial assassination attempt.