CaliToday (21/9/2025): An armed man claiming to be a law enforcement officer was taken into custody Saturday morning near the State Farm Stadium, the venue for a high-security memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk scheduled for Sunday, which will be attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
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| Pictured: Joshua Runkles, 42, has been identified as the man who allegedly impersonated a police officer at the site of the Charlie Kirk memorial in Arizona |
The incident has further heightened security concerns for an event already under a massive security protocol, as federal authorities revealed they are monitoring multiple threats ahead of the service.
Local police and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the armed individual, who was said to be exhibiting "suspicious behavior" in the vicinity of the stadium. The Secret Service confronted the man, who identified himself as a member of law enforcement.
In a statement to NewsNation, a sister company of The Hill, the Secret Service confirmed the man was "not a credentialed law enforcement officer authorized to be working the event," adding that authorities "are investigating the reason for him being at the site."
It was not immediately clear if the man remains in custody, but officials indicated he could face charges from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The arrest comes as final preparations are being made for the solemn funeral and memorial service for Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated last week. The service is scheduled for 11:00 AM local time on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the stadium, which is home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and has a capacity of over 63,000.
Due to the attendance of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other senior administration officials, the memorial has been designated a SEAR Level 1 (Special Event Assessment Rating) event, triggering a security operation on the scale of a Super Bowl. On Friday, federal agencies stated they were tracking "multiple threats of unspecified credibility" targeting those planning to attend the ceremony.
The service honors Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, who was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, at 12:20 PM. Utah prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the man charged with his murder. Robinson turned himself in to authorities on the evening of Thursday, September 11, one day after the shooting.
The assassination and the subsequent security threats have amplified national concerns over the rise of political violence and the challenges of protecting First Amendment rights, including freedom of speech online, in a deeply polarized environment.
