An armed man impersonating law enforcement was arrested Friday outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where tens of thousands are expected to gather for Sunday’s memorial service honoring Charlie Kirk. The incident heightened already strict security preparations for the high-profile event, which will host President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other national leaders.
Authorities identified the suspect as 42-year-old Joshua Runkles, who allegedly approached the venue claiming to be affiliated with law enforcement. Officers with the Secret Service and Arizona Department of Public Safety determined he was carrying multiple weapons, including a firearm and knives. Runkles was arrested and charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place. He has since been released on bond.
Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk, confirmed that Runkles told security personnel he was conducting advance work for a guest scheduled to attend. The group said no such arrangement had been authorized, and federal officials emphasized that he was not part of the security detail for any speaker or dignitary. The Secret Service has continued its investigation into his claims and possible motives.
The memorial is designated as a Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1, the highest security classification normally reserved for events like the Super Bowl. With more than 100,000 people expected at State Farm Stadium and overflow venues, authorities have deployed federal, state, and local law enforcement in a coordinated operation to prevent disruptions or attacks.
Kirk’s assassination earlier this month has already elevated national concerns about political violence. The arrest of an armed individual attempting to pass as law enforcement outside the memorial underscores those fears and the challenges of securing a gathering of such scale. Officials continue to warn attendees of heavy screening and delays as part of unprecedented safety measures.
