Teen arrested for attempt to assassinate Trump

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

(Las Vegas, NV) - Nineteen-year-old Michael Steven Sandford was arrested at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas this week for attempting to use an officer’s gun to shoot Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to federal authorities.

The U.S. District Court in Nevada filed the complaint Monday. Federal Magistrate Judge George Foley declined to grant Stanford bail, calling him a risk to the community and a flight risk. No plea has been entered.

According to CBS, “Authorities said Sandford went to a Trump rally on Saturday at the Treasure Island Casino and approached a Las Vegas police officer to say he wanted an autograph from Trump. The report says Sandford grabbed the handle of an officer's gun in an attempt to remove it, and was arrested.”

Sandford went to Battlefield Vegas shooting range the day before the rally for target practice, shooting 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol. This has been confirmed by police detectives, according to CBS.

Public defender Heather Fraley said Sandford was competent, but has autism.

According to Sandford, he was planning an assassination for a year and was convinced he would die while trying.

Trump critics jokingly say Sandford could be a time traveler.

The Gayly - 6/21/2016 @ 2:41 p.m. CDT