TPUSA Spokesperson Reveals Details on Armed Suspect Arrested Inside Charlie Kirk Memorial Venue

We have an update for you regarding the armed man who was arrested inside State Farm Stadium, where Charlie Kirk ‘s funeral will be held.

As WLT Report previously covered, an armed man with a gun and a knife was arrested inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where Charlie Kirk’s memorial will be held.

Secret Service agents detained the man after he exhibited “suspicious behavior” and was later arrested after he claimed to be a law enforcement officer.

The man has been identified as Joshua Runkles and has since been charged and booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet has revealed the man was “doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service tomorrow.”

Take a look:

I want to add a note of clarity here. This individual was doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service tomorrow. We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the… https://t.co/i6YvnMUog1

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 20, 2025

Full post:

I want to add a note of clarity here. This individual was doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service tomorrow.

We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or US Secret Service.

Also important to note that this was before the site had been fully sealed and locked down. Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyone’s safety.

Here’s a mugshot of Runkles:

JUST IN: The Arizona Department of Public Safety has identified 42-year-old Joshua Runkles as the individual who impersonated a law enforcement officer and was armed at the site of Charlie Kirk’s memorial event on Sunday.

He has since been released on bond.

Runkles has been… pic.twitter.com/JUWLIarsdJ

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 20, 2025

Newsweek reported more on Runkle’s arrest:

Joshua Runkles, 42, has been charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place after being arrested Friday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, according to information provided to Newsweek by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The arrest occurred at the venue where Charlie Kirk’s memorial service is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Runkles was released on bond after being booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of conservative campaign group Turning Point USA, was shot dead on September 10 while addressing students at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.

The killing sparked fresh fears about political violence in the U.S. after President Donald Trump, then the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024.

According to prosecutors, Trump survived a second attempt two months later in September 2024 and 59-year-old Ryan Routh has been charged over the incident. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

On Friday afternoon Runkles was taken into custody at State Farm Stadium in Glendale after exhibiting suspicious behavior, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Secret Service initially approached the individual, who falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement and stated that he was armed.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed to Newsweek that Runkles is not a law enforcement officer. He was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on two charges: impersonating a law enforcement officer (Class 6 felony) and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place (Class 1 misdemeanor).

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