UPDATE 06/20/16 7:20 p.m.:
An arraignment at the U.S. District Court Monday revealed Sandford is in the United States illegally after staying after his visa from the United Kingdom expired. It was also revealed that Sandford, who officials said has previously tried to commit suicide, has Asperger syndrome, a type of autism. He hasn't been diagnosed with a mental illness. A judge ordered Sandford remain in custody.
UPDATE 06/20/16 5:40 p.m.:
Sandford, according to the Associated Press, told officers he was trying to kill Donald Trump. Sandford had been planning the assassination for about a year he allegedly told officers. He also told officers he had a ticket for the Trump rally in Phoenix scheduled for the same day as the Las Vegas one in case his plan didn't pan out.
The day before, Sandford went to a Vegas shooting range and took shooting lessons. The lessons were reportedly confirmed by a range employee who spoke to police detectives.
Sandford told a special agent that he's been in the U.S. for about a year and a half first living in Hoboken, N.J. and then San Bernardino, Calif reports the AP. Sandford had a United Kingdom driver's license on his person.
See original story below.
A 19-year-old man could face up to a decade in federal prison for trying to snatch a police officer's gun during a Donald Trump rally at the Treasure Island casino hotel in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
It's not clear what Michael Sandford was planning to do with that gun, or whether he had some plan to harm Trump or others with it. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials say Sandford approached the officer and started a conversation "under the pretense that he was seeking an autograph" from Trump, before trying to grab the officer's gun from its holster.
Sandford was handed over to the Secret Service, which is tasked with guarding Trump at campaign events. The Secret Service has charged Sandford with two federal crimes, including assault, CNN reports. The max sentence, if convicted, would be 10 years.
It's not the first time that police have had to take action during one of Trump's campaign rallies this year. A guy wearing a Dreamville T-shirt tried to rush the stage at a Trump event in Ohio in March. In April, angry protesters chanted "get him out" as they they tried to rush the door at the California GOP convention where Trump was scheduled to speak.
