A man armed with a gun and a knife was detained Saturday at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix before Charlie Kirk’s memorial service at that venue on Sunday – with authorities accusing him of brandishing inactive law enforcement credentials and lacking permission to be there.
In a statement released Saturday, the US Secret Service said that it was coordinating with local law enforcement in Glendale, Arizona, to investigate “an individual who was observed exhibiting suspicious behavior at State Farm Stadium”.
“The individual was approached by Secret Service and stated during the encounter that he was a member of law enforcement and that he was armed. The individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody,” the Secret Service said.
The agency added: “The US Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location.”
The man was armed with at least one gun and one knife when he was stopped, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Washington Post. The official added that the man presented “inactive law enforcement credentials” and informed the Secret Service that he was there to provide private security.
Sunday’s memorial service for Kirk is expected to draw up to 100,000 attendees to Glendale, where Kirk’s conservative advocacy organization, Turning Point USA, is based. Donald Trump and JD Vance are set to deliver addresses alongside other high-profile White House cabinet members including secretary of state Marco Rubio and defense secretary Pete Hegseth.
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Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, is also scheduled to speak at the service. Following Kirk’s death, his wife was named the new leader of TPUSA.
The Department of Homeland Security has designated the event a special event assessment rating (Sear) level 1 event, according to multiple reports. Sear level 1 connotes “significant events with national and/or international importance that require extensive federal interagency support”.
According to the event’s website, attendees are to expect TSA-level screening, and guests arriving with bags, even clear ones, will not be permitted entry.
Kirk, 31, was shot to death on 10 September while he was speaking at a college event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, has since been charged with aggravated murder in Kirk’s killing. Utah state prosecutors say they intend to pursue the death penalty against Robinson if he is convicted.