Secret Service agents detained an armed man overnight who they said was posing as a law enforcement officer at the site of Charlie Kirk’s scheduled memorial service this weekend, a spokesman for the agency said.
The man arrested had firearms and knives and was observed “exhibiting suspicious behavior” at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., when agents approached him, Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, said in a statement. The individual, Mr. Guglielmi said, falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement and was then taken into custody.
The identity of the man was not released, and it was unclear where exactly he was on the grounds, and whether he was being charged. The Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating what the individual was doing at the stadium, Mr. Guglielmi said.
The arrest, which was first reported by The Washington Post, heightened security concerns for the memorial on Sunday for Mr. Kirk, the conservative activist who was assassinated in Utah last week. The stadium, the home of the N.F.L.’s Arizona Cardinals, can seat up to 73,000 people, and President Trump, Vice President Vance and several cabinet members are scheduled to speak.
If the stadium reaches capacity, the nearby Desert Diamond Arena, which can hold 19,000 people, will be used to accommodate the overflow.
Because of the high anticipated turnout and the dignitaries attending, the Department of Homeland Security has designated the memorial a top-level security event, similar to the Super Bowl or the New York Marathon.
Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy organization Mr. Kirk founded that is organizing the event, has said that security precautions could extend the wait time for attendees to get into the venue. It is scheduled to open three hours before the service begins at 11 a.m. local time. No bags will be allowed in, the organization has said.
Kieran Corcoran contributed reporting.
Chris Hippensteel is a reporter covering breaking news and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers.
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