An armed man posing as legislation enforcement was detained at an Arizona stadium the place a memorial service for Charlie Kirk is ready to happen on Sunday, the Secret Service stated.
The person entered State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday and was “exhibiting suspicious” conduct, a Secret Service spokesperson stated in an announcement Saturday. The spokesperson added that the person, whose title the company didn’t reveal, was posing as legislation enforcement and was armed.
“The person is just not a member of licensed legislation enforcement working the occasion and is at the moment in custody,” the spokesperson stated. “The U.S. Secret Service and native legislation enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was on the location.”
The memorial service for Kirk is anticipated to attract an enormous viewers, which can embody President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and different elected officers.
Kirk, a conservative activist with a well-liked podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Present,” was assassinated this month whereas talking at an occasion at a school campus in Utah. He was 31 years previous and left behind a spouse and two kids.
His homicide adopted a collection of political acts of violence in the USA within the final yr, together with the assassinations of former Minnesota Home Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, of their dwelling, and of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of New York Metropolis. Trump additionally confronted two assassination makes an attempt whereas campaigning for the presidency final yr.
Kirk’s assassination has achieved little to quell charged political rhetoric that has gripped the nation for the higher a part of a decade.
Social media has arguably change into much more of a cesspool of hate because the Sept. 10 assault, with extremists flooding information feeds with celebrations Kirk’s killing and others are calling for civil battle.
