Thread: Man at Vegas Rally Said He Wanted to Kill Trump, Feds Say

JUN 20 2016, 4:21 PM ET

Man at Vegas Rally Said He Wanted to Kill Trump, Feds Say

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS — A federal officer says a man arrested at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas told authorities he tried to grab an officer's gun so he could kill the candidate.

A complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Nevada charges Michael Steven Sandford with an act of violence on restricted grounds.

It cites a report by Special Agent Swierkowski, whose first name was not included, saying Sandford told officers he drove from California to kill Trump and went to a Las Vegas gun range the day before to learn to shoot.

Sandford later went to a Trump rally at the Treasure Island Casino and approached a Las Vegas police officer to say he wanted an autograph from Trump.

The report says Sandford was arrested after grabbing the handle of an officer's gun in an attempt to remove it.

It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney. Las Vegas police say Sandford is 19.

This is a developing story

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...-trump-n595876

Whoa....

Feeling good NEVER TRUMP, STOP TRUMP, ANYONE BUT TRUMP people inciting violence and now assassination plots with your BULL CRAP against our nominee??!!

STATES: Wake Up! The liars, cheaters, thieves and traitors who have put our country into the mess it is today are the same ones who are NEVER TRUMP, STOP TRUMP, ANYONE BUT TRUMP, and you need to take whatever action is necessary to recall these delegates and keep them OUT OUT OUT of our Convention.

SHUT 'EM DOWN. NOW.

British teenager arrested in Las Vegas tells police 'he wanted to kill Donald Trump'

Donald Trump speaking during a rally at the Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas where Michael Sandford was arrested CREDIT: JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP

• Rob Crilly, new york

20 JUNE 2016 • 11:37PM

A British man has told investigators he wanted to kill Donald Trump after being arrested at a campaign rally for trying to grab an officer's gun.

Court papers detail how Michael Sandford, 19, approached a police officer at the event in Las Vegas on Saturday, saying he wanted the Republican candidate's autograph.

“Sandford then attempted to seize the sidearm of Officer Jacob by grabbing the holster and handle of the firearm with both hands,” according to court documents, which also said Mr Sandford had earlier visited a gun range in order to learn how to shoot.

Donald Trump supporters at the rally in Las Vegas CREDIT: JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP

He was due to appear in court later on Monday to face a charge of “an act of violence on restricted grounds”.

Mr Sandford, who was identified by his British driver's licence, told officers he had been living in the US for about 18 months and was convinced he would die in the attempt.

He said he had travelled to Las Vegas from California and had visited the Battlefield Vegas gun range, where he fired 20 rounds from a Glock 9mm pistol.

“Sandford claimed this was the first time he had ever fired a gun,” read the complaint.

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Rajini Vaidyanathan @BBCRajiniV

Police complaint shows that Michael Sandford had also planned to travel to Phoenix, to try and kill Donald #Trump.
3:00 PM - 20 Jun 2016

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When asked why he had tried to grab the weapon from the officer, he replied simply: “To shoot and kill Trump.”

About 1,500 people attended the rally, which was held in the Mystere Theater inside the Treasure Island Casino. Attendees had to pass through metal detectors manned by Secret Service, police and casino security officials.

If his attempt failed, he said he planned to travel to Phoenix, Arizona, for another rally there.

A Foreign Office spokesman said:

"We are providing assistance following an arrest of a British national in Las Vegas."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...-he-wanted-to/

If we don't pass an immediate Moratorium on All Immigration Now, then we deserve everything these people come here to do to us. Where is immigration on this guy? What is he doing here? Is he here on a student visa, a tourist visa, a work visa, illegally, a green card? WHY has he been in our country for 18 months??!!! Doing WHAT?
And where is the question from FBI, "why did you want to shoot and kill Trump?"

British teen tried to take officer’s gun to kill Trump

Originally Posted by Judy

. . . And where is the question from FBI, "why did you want to shoot and kill Trump?"

It is an investigation. They have to save some info for court.

We should all know by know that all of the information never comes out at the beginning of a story. It comes out a little at a time over several days.

Michael Steven Sandford: 5 Fast Facts You Need To Know

Published 4:52 pm EDT, June 20, 2016 Updated 7:05 pm EDT, June 20, 2016 By Daniel S. Levine

The crowd at Donald Trump’s Las Vegas rally on June 18, where Michael Steven Sandford was arrested. (Getty)

A 19-year-old British man drove from California to Las Vegas to attempt to kill Donald Trump at a rally at the Treasure Island Casino on June 18, the Secret Service says.

Michael Steven Sandford tried to take a gun from a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer to assassinate the Republican candidate, but failed in his attempt,according to court documents filed in the U.S. District of Nevada court.

Sandford told a Secret Service agent he tried to grab the officer’s gun to “shoot and kill Trump.” He told the agent he thought he could fire one or two rounds before he would be killed by law enforcement, according to court documents.

He is accused of committing an act of violence on restricted grounds, according to the criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Here’s what we know about Sandford so far. This is a breaking story and we will add more information as it comes in.

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1. He Had Been Planning the Assassination Attempt for More Than a Year, the Feds Say

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Nick @9Joe9

Trump's would be assassin according to reports
19 year old Michael Steven Sandford
1:24 PM - 20 Jun 2016

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Michael Sandford told authorities he drove from California with intent to harm Trump, said Secret Service Special Agent Joseph Hall wrote in the criminal complaint. He arrived in Las Vegas on June 16 and went to the Battlefield Vegas gun range to learn how to use a gun the day before the rally, the complaint said. He said he fired a 9mm Glock, which was the first time he had shot a gun, according to the complaint. He fired about 20 rounds during the training.

Sandford also told Secret Service Special Agent Jason Swierkowski that he had been planning to kill Trump for a year “but decided to act on this occasion because he finally felt confident about trying it,” court documents state. He added that he would try it again if he could. In fact, he told the agents reserved a ticket for Trump’s Phoenix rally later the same day.

You can read the full criminal complaint below:

The complaint says Sandford had a U.K. driver’s license. He only moved to the U.S. a year and a half ago and first lived in Hoboken, New Jersey before moving to the Ontario/San Bernardino, California area. He said he drove across the country from Hoboken to California in his 2007 black BMW 328i, but the complaint does not specify how long he was living on the West Coast.

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2. Sandford Told a Police Officer He Wanted Trump’s Autograph & Then Tried to Grab His Gun, Police Say

Donald Trump in Las Vegas (Getty)

Sandford struck up a conversation with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Ameel Jacob, claiming that he wanted to get an autograph from Trump, according to court documents. He then reached towards the officer’s weapon to pull it out of the holster, which was not locked, the Secret Service says. Sandford was then arrested.

He was dragged out of the event by police.

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Teen arrested at Trump rally in Vegas, intended to grab officer's gun & kill the candidate @jeffpeguescbs has more
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According to court documents, Sandford grabbed the holster and the handle of the firearm with both hands.

Sandford told the Secret Service he thought taking the firearm from an officer would be the easiest way to acquire a gun to shoot Trump, according to court documents. He also said he targeted Jacob because he thought he saw the officer’s holster in an unlocked position.

“The officers assigned to the event were able to quickly take Sandford into custody with little further disruption at the venue,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told The Las Vegas Review Journal. “Custody of Sandford has since been handed over to the United States Secret Service, where he will face formal charges.”

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3. Sandford Is Facing Up to 10 Years in Prison if He Is Found Guilty

Supporters cheer as they wait for US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to speak at a rally at the Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas. (Getty)

Authorities charged Sandford with trying to commit an act of violence against a person in a restricted area. He could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

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LIVE: Republican presidential candidate @realDonaldTrump at Treasure Island in Las Vegas https://shar.es/1JKrJM
11:05 AM - 18 Jun 2016

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In addition to a statement from Sandford himself, police said that security footage from Treasure Island showed Sandford leave his seat and approach the officer to grab his weapon. Police also spoke with an employee at the Battlefield Vegas gun range to confirm that he went there.


WATCH: Gunman Arrested at Donald Trump Rally

A gunman was arrested at Donald Trump's rally in Houston. Find out more about the man and see a video of his arrest.
Click here to read more

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4. An Ohio College Student Was Arrested After Charging the Stage During a Trump Rally in March

Donald Trump at a Dallas rally (Getty)

This is hardly the first time a person has been arrested at a Trump rally. Just last week, a man was arrested at his rally in Houston with a gun and was wearing a “Donald Trump” t-shirt.

In March, Thomas Dimassimo was arrested while storming the stage during a Trump rally in Dayton, Ohio.

Trump later accused Dimassimo of being a member of ISIS, which turned out to not be true, according to federal authorities.

Dimassimo was arrested and is facing both state and federal charges in Ohio.

Also in March, John McGraw was caught punching a black man at a Trump rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina.


Thomas Dimassimo: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Thomas Dimassimo was arrested after rushing the stage while Donald Trump spoke during a rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday, police say.
Click here to read more

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5. Trump Has a ‘Mercenary’ Security Force Along With Secret Service Protection

Donald Trump speaks following his win in the Nevada caucus. (Getty)

Although Donald Trump is protected by the Secret Service, Politico reports that Trump has his own “mercenary force” that has employed aggressive tactics to stop protesters during his rallies. These private security officers have been seen wearing street clothes, just keeping an eye out for protesters.

There were around 1,500 people at the Las Vegas rally,according to the Associated Press. Every one of them had to go through metal detectors overseen by the Secret Service and local authorities.

There were also signs posted designating that anyone in the area would be subject to search, which the Secret Service said in court documents made it a “restricted” area under the protection of the agency.

http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/michae...t-kill-arrest/

More information will be available over the next several day/weeks as law enforcement and the media do their jobs.