The spokesperson added that Runkles was armed and posing as law enforcement. Court documents indicate he was found with a Glock pistol, a revolver, and knives. The public memorial service and funeral for Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, who was killed on September 10, will take place in Arizona on Sunday morning under tight security.
Many members of the Trump administration are expected at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix and home to Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA. Trump and Erika Kirk are listed as the main speakers on the memorial service’s website, along with US Vice-President JD Vance.
Who was Joshua Runkles, the man posing as law enforcement with a gun?
Joshua Runkles, 42, reportedly approached an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) major outside State Farm Stadium on Friday, claiming he was working a security detail through Turning Point USA, NBC reported, citing the probable cause statement.
When asked for identification, Runkles presented “a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office badge and an Idaho law enforcement identification card, sworn commissioned reserve peace officer,” according to NBC. The DPS major asked if he was armed, and Runkles admitted he was. He was told he could not enter the stadium armed and was advised to contact Turning Point USA to coordinate with the Secret Service regarding access, the filing stated. Later, Secret Service personnel found Runkles inside the stadium and detained him after confirming he was armed, the documents revealed.
Joshua Runkles was taken into custody by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and booked on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony in Arizona, NBC reported. He was later released on bond from Maricopa County Jail.
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