The Secret Service disclosed that an armed individual impersonating law enforcement was apprehended at an Arizona stadium where a memorial for Charlie Kirk is scheduled for Sunday.
The man entered State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday, demonstrating “suspicious” behavior, according to a Secret Service spokesperson on Saturday. The spokesperson mentioned that the individual, whose identity remains undisclosed by the agency, was impersonating law enforcement and was armed.
“The individual is not a recognized member of authorized law enforcement for the event and is currently in custody,” the spokesperson stated. “The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the reasons behind his presence there.”
The memorial service for Kirk is anticipated to attract a large audience, which will include President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other elected officials.
Kirk, a conservative activist known for his popular podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” was assassinated this month during an event at a Utah college campus. He was 31 and left behind a wife and two children.
His murder followed a series of politically motivated violent acts in the United States over the last year, including the assassinations of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their residence, and UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Trump also survived two assassination attempts while campaigning for the presidency last year.
Kirk’s assassination has done little to quell charged political rhetoric that has gripped the nation for the better part of a decade.
Social media has arguably become even more of a cesspool of hate since the Sept. 10 attack, with extremists flooding news feeds with celebrations Kirk’s killing and others are calling for civil war.
