Joshua Runkles, 42, was arrested for impersonating police and carrying weapons at Charlie Kirk’s memorial venue in Arizona.
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.Why It Matters
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.What To Know
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.
