Arrest Made Ahead of High-Profile Charlie Kirk Memorial in Arizona
Arrest Made Ahead of High-Profile Charlie Kirk Memorial in Arizona
An armed individual was arrested Friday afternoon outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk is scheduled to take place. Kirk was tragically shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) confirmed the arrest, stating that a man, later identified as Joshua Runkles, 42, was observed exhibiting suspicious behavior. When confronted by Secret Service agents, Runkles claimed to be a law enforcement officer and was armed. The Arizona Department of Public Safety clarified that Runkles was not a law enforcement official and subsequently booked him into Maricopa County Jail for impersonating an officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited area. Runkles has since been released on bond.
Investigations are ongoing into why Runkles was present at the location. Sources indicate he was working as a private security officer for an influencer attending Sunday’s memorial. The service is expected to draw high-profile attendees, including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several administration officials, alongside Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who has been named the new CEO of Turning Point USA. Due to the national importance of the event, it has been designated a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1.
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