An armed North Carolina man was arrested Friday at the Charlie Kirk memorial site in Arizona. Authorities said he was impersonating law enforcement and carrying a weapon. The incident occurred as the memorial, expected to host over 100,000 people including President Trump and Vice President Vance, prepared to start at 2 p.m. EST.
- Man arrested for suspicious behavior at memorial site
- Runkles falsely claimed law enforcement role, carried weapon
- Memorial security heightened, similar to Super Bowl level
- Authorities linked Runkles to North Carolina, unknown employment history
- Event expected to host over 100,000 attendees, including Trump and Vance
42-year-old Joshua Runkles from Cameron, NC, was approached by security at State Farm Stadium around 12:15 p.m. He claimed he was security staff working for TPUSA. Runkles showed a sheriff’s badge and Idaho law enforcement ID when asked for identification. Security told him he couldn’t carry a weapon on the property and needed to verify with TPUSA. Over an hour later, Secret Service agents detained Runkles on the club level after discovering he was armed. He was later released on bond. Authorities are unsure if Runkles was ever employed by law enforcement. The memorial is set to feature high security, similar to the Super Bowl, due to the attendance of notable political figures.
- Runkles was armed and impersonating law enforcement at the memorial site.
- He claimed to be working security for TPUSA, but his employment status is unclear.
- Security protocols included verifying IDs and detaining armed individuals.
- The memorial’s security level is comparable to the Super Bowl, due to VIP attendance.
This event underscores the importance of strict security measures at major public gatherings. Authorities continue to monitor the situation for potential threats.
Further updates will clarify Runkles’s background and any additional security concerns at the memorial.
