An armed man was taken into custody Friday afternoon outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk is scheduled to be held, authorities said. Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.
The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that agents noticed a man “exhibiting suspicious behavior” near the stadium. When approached, the man told agents he was armed and claimed to be a member of law enforcement.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety identified the man as Joshua Runkles, 42, and confirmed he was not a law enforcement officer. Runkles was arrested for impersonating an officer and bringing a weapon into a prohibited area. He was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and later released on bond.
Two law enforcement sources told CBS News that Runkles had been working as a private security officer for an influencer attending Sunday’s memorial. When confronted, he initially claimed he was on a Secret Service detail and showed credentials identifying himself as a deputy sheriff from out of town.
“The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location,” the agency said.
Sunday’s memorial will feature speeches from President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, several administration officials, and Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow and the new CEO of Turning Point USA. Christian musicians are also scheduled to perform, with more names to be announced.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed the event is classified as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1, a designation given to major national or international events requiring extensive federal support, such as the Super Bowl.
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