Charlie Kirk's memorial service: Security upped after 'armed man impersonating cop' arrested

A gunman posing as a police officer was arrested on Friday night at the Arizona stadium where conservative pundit Charlie Kirk'smemorial service is scheduled for Sunday, officials revealed.

The political activist and supporter of Trump was tragically shot dead last Wednesday whilst addressing students at a public event at Utah Valley University. He was struck by a single to the neck as he sat under a small gazebo errected to protect him from the sun.

A 22 year old man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with his murder.

Charlie's public memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, September 21. The stadium has a capacity of 63,000 people, expandable to over 73,000 for larger events. The nearby Desert Diamond Arena will serve as overflow and can accommodate an additional 19,000 people.

READ MORE: Shots fired at TV station Jimmy Kimmel suspension causes public outrage

READ MORE: Charlie Kirk's wife Erika prays for late husband in heaven days before funeral

The event will be on a first-come, first-served basis based on stadium capacity. TP USA also advises that there will be a no bag policy in effect.

Joshua Runkles, 42, was charged with the serious offence of impersonating a law enforcement officer and a lesser charge for bringing a weapon into a restricted area, court documents show. He was discovered carrying a loaded pistol, a revolver, and multiple knives.

Court papers reveal Runkles initially approached a security guard claiming to be part of a Turning Point USA protection team. He was subsequently detained by Secret Service operatives inside the venue.

Runkles cooperated fully and was freed on £400 bail with pre-trial monitoring, authorities confirmed. The Arizona Department of Public Safety stated: "An investigation is ongoing to determine his intent and purpose at the stadium.", reports the Mirror US.

Whilst on bail, Runkles has been banned from returning to the location of the alleged offence. His residential address is recorded as North Carolina.

The shocking incident has led to ramped-up security at the packed venue, which is expected to host President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior administration figures. The Department of Homeland Security has classified Kirk's memorial as a Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1, enabling federal agencies to implement extensive security protocols comparable to a Super Bowl.

Detectives are still investigating Runkles' motives, with his next court hearing set for Thursday.