Armed man detained at Charlie Kirk memorial site in Arizona, authorities say
Secret Service and local police detained a man who claimed to be law enforcement and was found armed at State Farm Stadium ahead of Sunday's service.
An armed man claiming to be law enforcement was detained Friday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where Charlie Kirk's memorial service is planned for Sunday.
Federal authorities, led by the U.S. Secret Service in coordination with local police, said the individual exhibited suspicious behavior at the venue. The man, who has not been identified, told officers he was a member of law enforcement and was armed. A source close to the matter told the New York Times that he was armed with at least one gun and a knife and presented inactive credentials. The Secret Service said the individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody, with investigators reviewing why he was at the stadium.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead on Sept. 10 in front of crowds of students and supporters at Utah Valley University while on his "American Comeback" tour. The memorial service, titled Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk, is set to begin at 11 a.m. local time. The event's website notes that seating is on a first-come, first-served basis based on stadium capacity, with indoor overflow available next door at the Desert Diamond Arena.
State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, has seating for about 63,400 and can expand to more than 73,000 for larger events. Security at the service is expected to be heightened in light of the memorial’s high-profile lineup and the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death.
The roster announced for the service includes Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, as well as former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance. Other names listed include White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., White House advisor Stephen Miller, and Sergio Gor. In addition to the political figures, Christian performers such as Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes were slated to perform.
A source familiar with security planning said the event is expected to draw a large crowd, and officials warned that enhanced security measures could lead to longer wait times for attendees. Investigators with the Secret Service and Glendale police said they will continue to review the incident and determine why the man was at the venue.