A man pretending to be a police officer was apprehended on Friday evening at the Arizona stadium where a memorial service for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is planned for Sunday. Kirk, a vocal supporter of former President Trump, tragically lost his life last Wednesday when he was shot while speaking at a public event in Utah.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old individual, has been charged with Kirk’s murder. The memorial service for Kirk is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 21, at a stadium with a capacity of 63,000, expandable to accommodate over 73,000 attendees for larger gatherings. The Desert Diamond Arena nearby will serve as overflow, offering space for an additional 19,000 people.
The event will operate on a first-come, first-served basis due to stadium capacity constraints, with a strict no-bag policy enforced by TP USA. In a separate incident, Joshua Runkles, aged 42, faces charges for impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a restricted area. He was found in possession of a loaded pistol, a revolver, and multiple knives.
Runkles initially claimed to be part of a security team associated with Turning Point USA but was detained by Secret Service personnel inside the venue. After cooperating with authorities, he was released on £400 bail with pre-trial monitoring. The Arizona Department of Public Safety mentioned that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain his intentions at the stadium.
During his bail period, Runkles is prohibited from returning to the location of the alleged offense, with his residential address reported as being in North Carolina. The incident has prompted heightened security measures at the venue, where prominent figures like President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are anticipated to attend Kirk’s memorial. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the event as a Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1, leading to stringent security measures akin to those of a major event like the Super Bowl.
Authorities are continuing to probe Runkles’ motives, with his next court appearance scheduled for Thursday.