Secret Service Stops Armed Intruder at Kirk Memorial
The ‘suspicious’ individual was carrying a gun and a knife when he was apprehended at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Friday.”
Security preparations for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, reached a new level of urgency Friday after federal agents detained an armed man inside State Farm Stadium. The stadium, which will host Sunday’s service attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, was placed under heavy scrutiny following the incident.
As Fox News reported:
“An armed man who claimed to be connected to law enforcement was detained Friday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the Secret Service told Fox News Digital.”
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the agency acted quickly after spotting the suspect:
https://twitter.com/MattFinnFNC/status/1969416460218089629
“The U.S. Secret Service in coordination with local law enforcement in Glendale, Arizona, is investigating an individual who was observed exhibiting suspicious behavior at State Farm Stadium. The individual was approached by Secret Service and stated during the encounter that he was a member of law enforcement and that he was armed. The individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody.”
Fox News further noted:
“The individual, who has not been publicly identified, actually was armed, Guglielmi confirmed to Fox News Digital. ‘The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location.’”
According to federal sources cited in the coverage, the man was a former deputy sheriff from Idaho who presented expired credentials.
The Daily Mail added more disturbing details:
“An armed man claiming to be law enforcement has been detained at the site of Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona. The ‘suspicious’ individual was carrying a gun and a knife when he was apprehended at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Friday.”
The Daily Mail report also emphasized that authorities are “tracking several threats of unknown credibility” in the run-up to the service, which has been designated a Level 1 Special Event by the Department of Homeland Security, a classification typically reserved for the Super Bowl or presidential inaugurations.
Officials are preparing for a massive gathering, with more than 63,000 attendees expected and a full roster of national political leaders, including Trump, Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Marco Rubio, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Tucker Carlson, among others.
The memorial service, “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” comes just eleven days after Kirk was assassinated in Utah. His widow, Erika Kirk, will also speak, having vowed to carry forward her husband’s mission.
In the Secret Service statement, Glendale Police Chief said his department is deploying “every available resource” for Sunday, with bomb squads and tactical units on standby. After Friday’s arrest, the stakes could not be clearer: authorities are racing to ensure that mourners can gather safely to honor Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy.
UPDATE: The suspect has been named:
BREAKING: Joshua Runkles was arrested after allegedly bringing weapons into State Farm Stadium ahead of Charlie Kirk's memorial. A federal source tells FOX News Runkles is a former law enforcement officer from another state. pic.twitter.com/OWNDvSayY6
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 20, 2025
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Comments
wellll duh!!
the lefty is looking to great gatherings of people to hurt them
think about that WI (?) parade a few years back where blmplo used a vehicle to mow people down
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/darrell-brooks-waukesha-wisconsin-holiday-parade-daniel-rider/
Both the President and Vice President are going to be speaking at memorial for someone assassinate. This guy should be locked up for life for criminal stupidity.
given the security level would doubt the ability of anyone to get close enough for a handgun let alone an edged weapon—would be more concerned about the extent of the security perimeter—am hoping someone has considered a drone incursion and prepared accordingly
We are at war. Prepare accordingly. The left is not putting away their murderous rage. The left calls good, evil; and evil, good. They hate us. They will murder us. Charlie paid the ultimate price.
The flood of cultural sadism the left vomited this previous weeks about the assassination of a good man proves they enjoy it; approve of it; will fund it. Their politicians will not disavow it, but excuse it. Their pundits (like ‘destiny’) publicly call for more violence.
The left is not putting away their murderous rage. We are at war. Prepare accordingly.
Unfortunately, this is our America
That’s a level of stupid few achieve
After reading this account, the man who was arrested doesn’t seem to have malicious intent but also seems to be utterly bereft of common sense.
That in mind, I can take some solace that the USSS is taking the threat posed by this service seriously long before the event actually takes place.
The USSS would have had three strikes if this event meant someone was injured or an assassination attempt were made on any person under their protection. They can’t afford to screw up again.
I hope that the access points to the event are well protected since we can bet that terrorist organizations like Antifa, BLM, and many others will block traffic, assault visitors, and otherwise act as stupidly as they do around ICE officers.
As crowds leave they could be subject to car rammings.
Bond? He’s out already? I’d have kept him in custody until Monday, after the event.
The Professor will find this interesting. Barrington, RI:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/09/students-rhode-island-high-school-attend-school-board/
Update: Turning Point issued a statement explaining that this person was doing advance security for one of their invited speakers, had committed the error of not coordinating with the Secret Service and stadium security first, and showed up before the site was locked down and sanitized (so there were no security-hole implications to his being there).