A day before the memorial for Charlie Kirk, and over a week after he was assassinated, authorities detained an armed man at State Farm Stadium, where the event will take place. Allegedly, the man was armed with a knife and a firearm and had expired law enforcement credentials.
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As reported by Fox News Digital, citing the U.S. Secret Service, law enforcement detained a man at the Glendale stadium who displayed “suspicious behavior.” When approached by the Secret Service, the unnamed man stated that he was a law enforcement agent and that he was armed.
However, authorities determined that to be false. The man, a former Idaho deputy sheriff, used expired credentials while identifying himself. Furthermore, The Washington Post, citing officials, reported that the man had at least one firearm and one knife when he was detained.
The Secret Service and local law enforcement are currently investigating the man and his motive for being at the venue. “They are going through his background and trying to figure out what he was up to there,” a federal source told Fox News Digital.
Charlie Kirk, Assassinated
On Wednesday, September 10, Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University. Two people were initially detained, including George Zinn, who allegedly claimed to have been the shooter. However, 33 hours after Kirk’s killing, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah man, was arrested after his father turned him in.
Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder and witness tampering, among other charges. Prosecutors have announced that they will seek the death penalty.
Kirk’s memorial will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 21. Important conservative political figures will be in attendance, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Authorities, therefore, have warned the memorial attendees to keep their eyes out for any danger.
“From the moment you arrive… have your eyes wide open… who’s to your right, who’s to your left, who’s behind you? What are they doing?” former NYPD detective Pat Brosnan told Fox News Digital. “Eyes in the backs and the sides of your head”
Several law enforcement agencies have also shared a memo, stating that they are tracking threats of “unknown credibility.”
“Violent extremists and unaffiliated lone offenders may view the memorial service or related events as attractive attack targets due to the attendance of these individuals, other senior U.S. government officials, state and local government officials, and political activists and due to major international media attention,” the memo, obtained by ABC News, said.