A man pretending to be a police officer was apprehended on Friday evening at the stadium in Arizona where a memorial service for conservative figure Charlie Kirk is planned for Sunday, officials disclosed.
The advocate for Trump was tragically killed last Wednesday while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. He was fatally shot in the neck while seated under a small gazebo intended to shield him from the sun.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old, has been accused of his murder.
The public memorial for Charlie is set for Sunday, September 21, at a stadium with a capacity of 63,000, expandable to 73,000 for larger gatherings. The Desert Diamond Arena nearby will accommodate an additional 19,000 attendees.
The event will be on a first-come, first-served basis due to stadium capacity constraints, with a no bag policy enforced by TP USA.
Joshua Runkles, 42, faces charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a restricted area, according to court documents. He was found carrying a loaded pistol, a revolver, and multiple knives.
Runkles initially claimed to be part of a Turning Point USA protection team when approaching a security guard, but Secret Service personnel detained him inside the venue.
After cooperating fully, Runkles was released on £400 bail with pre-trial monitoring. Authorities stated that an investigation is ongoing to determine his intentions at the stadium.
While on bail, Runkles is prohibited from returning to the alleged offense location with a listed residence in North Carolina.
The security at the venue has been heightened following the incident, with expectations of hosting high-profile figures like President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Kirk’s memorial has been rated as a Special Event Assessment Level 1 by the Department of Homeland Security, leading to extensive security measures akin to those of a Super Bowl.
Detectives continue to probe Runkles’ motives, with his next court appearance scheduled for Thursday.