Armed man posing as law enforcement arrested at Arizona stadium ahead of Charlie Kirk funeral
Secret Service detains individual at State Farm Stadium; Kirk's funeral for Turning Point USA founder is expected to draw tens of thousands with high-profile attendees
GLENDALE, Ariz. — An armed man who claimed to be a member of law enforcement was arrested Friday at State Farm Stadium, the Glendale venue where Charlie Kirk’s funeral is slated for Sunday, authorities said. The U.S. Secret Service said the arrest occurred as investigators monitored the perimeter ahead of the high-profile service.
The Secret Service, coordinating with Glendale police, said the man was observed exhibiting suspicious behavior near the stadium and identified himself as law enforcement. He was armed and not part of the authorized protective detail for the event; he is in custody, authorities said. Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman, told Fox News Digital that the individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event.
Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University during an appearance on his American Comeback Tour. The suspected gunman, Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged in Utah with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice. Investigators have said Robinson lived with a transgender roommate, and communications between the two helped federal investigators locate and arrest him.
Kirk's body was brought to Arizona from Utah on Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, and was taken to Hansen Mortuary Chapel in Phoenix ahead of the service. Kirk’s memorial is expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees, and President Donald Trump has said he will attend. The event has drawn national attention as security preparations intensified at the stadium in the days leading up to the funeral.
The funeral is scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, and is expected to draw attendees from across the country. Officials emphasized that security measures would be stepped up for the service and that additional details would be released as they become available. The identity of the man arrested at the stadium has not been publicly released.
