Man arrested at stadium where Charlie Kirk memorial set to be held
A man was arrested at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, where a memorial service is scheduled for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on Sunday. Authorities said the man was armed, although a spokesperson for Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, later said that the person was doing security for a guest but did not properly coordinate with the organization or Secret Service beforehand.
Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with aggravated murder, obstruction, witness tampering and committing a violent offense in front of a child in connection to the shooting.
NBC News reported that a Secret Service spokesperson said a man, identified as Joshua Runkles, 42, entered the Glendale stadium on Friday and was “exhibiting suspicious behavior.”
“The individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody,” the spokesperson said in a statement to NBC. “The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location.”
Runkles faces charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place. He has been released on bond from Maricopa County Jail, NBC wrote.
A Turning Point spokesperson and executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk” show, Andrew Kolvet, said on X in response to a Fox News story on the incident that Runkles was doing advance security for a “known guest” planning to attend the memorial service.
“We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or U.S. Secret Service,” Kolvet said. “Also important to note that this was before the site had been fully sealed and locked down. Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Charlie Kirk’s memorial
Kirk’s memorial is set to begin at 11 a.m. local time. Glendale Police earlier this week said they expect a “large influx of visitors for the event.”
State Farm Stadium can fit 63,400 people, according to its website, and can expand to 73,000 for “mega-events.”
Federal authorities designated the service as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event, a senior Department of Homeland Security official told CBS News.
Expected speakers include Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, President Donald Trump, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Singers Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson, among others, will perform as well.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
