Charlie Kirk’s Funeral: High Security and Tensions in Arizona
A large billboard featuring the image of Charlie Kirk has been placed on the façade of State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, ahead of the funeral ceremony slated for September 20, 2025. A rigorous security protocol has been initiated in anticipation of the funeral for the well-known conservative commenter Charlie Kirk, whose demise was concluded to be an act of assassination. The funeral service is planned to commence at 11 a.m. according to Arizona’s time zone on the coming Sunday.
As the news of the assassination sent ripples through the nation, a considerable number of prominent conservative personalities have been listed to deliver speeches at the funeral service. These personalities range from President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Erika—Kirk’s bereaved wife, among many other influential conservatives. The level of security operations set in motion for this event equates to that seen at major events like the Super Bowl or the Boston Marathon.
In a recent turn of events, a man, Joshua Runkles, was detained by the police authorities on Friday at State Farm Stadium under suspicion of carrying unauthorized weapons. In an announcement made by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Runkles has been charged with a serious offense–pretending to be a law enforcement officer, which is a felony under Arizona state law. Additionally, he was also charged with a misdemeanor for possessing a weapon in a restricted area.
Post the charges, Runkles was released after providing bail—but the details regarding his planned activity within the safety perimeter of the Stadium remain unclear. A spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Public Safety commented on the ongoing investigation: ‘Runkles arrived and initially introduced himself using expired credentials. Our team is currently investigating his background to fathom his exact intent and purpose at the Stadium.’
A representative from the Secret Service shed some light on Runkles’s detention. According to them, ‘The Secret Service, in conjunction with local law enforcement in Glendale, Arizona, is currently looking into the matter of this individual who was displaying odd behavior within the premises of State Farm Stadium.’ They further added, ‘Upon our initial confrontation with the individual, he admitted to being an enforcement officer and being armed—claims we found to be false.’ However, as the investigation proceeds, he remains in custody for now.
Following the incident, Turning Point USA—a well-known conservative non-profit organization—released a statement in which it sought to downplay the incident, dismissing any assumptions of harmful intent. The organization stated that the individual in question was, in fact, a member of a security detail for one of the guests due at the funeral. Even though the presence of the individual was not intended to cause harm, Turning Point USA concedes there were lapses in properly coordinating with law enforcement bodies.
A memo circulated amongst federal agencies warns of potential threats targeting the event. The memo came from various federal bodies including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It stated, ‘Violent extremists or solo unaffiliated offenders might perceive the memorial service or its associated events as prime targets due to the participation of significant US government officials, activists, state and local government delegates and the substantial international media coverage.’
The concerned agencies also revealed that they are actively monitoring multiple threats of undisclosed credibility. The process includes assessing each threat to determine their credibility and potential impact. They, however, stressed that so far, no threat of significant substance has been verified.
The agencies have sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that not all threats being monitored have been judged to be credible. Nonetheless, in order to ensure the public’s safety, stringent precautions are being taken. Especially by Saturday afternoon, security measures included erecting barriers in the surrounding streets and parking areas of the stadium.
Jose Miguel Santiago, the spokesperson for the Glendale Police Department, shared details related to the expected attendance at the event. According to Santiago, Turning Point USA, the event organizer, reported an overwhelming number of registrants—more than 200,000 people—for the memorial ceremony.
When assessing the logistics of the event, it’s worth noting that the hosting venue, State Farm Stadium, has a maximum capacity of nearly 73,000 spectators. On the other hand, an additional site, Desert Diamond Arena, which has been announced as the designated spill-over venue, can accommodate nearly 19,000 attendees.
In light of the anticipated crowd, an advisory circulated by Turning Point USA informed attendees to expect stringent security measures at State Farm Stadium. The advisory further reinforced that bags will not be allowed into the venue and that visitors should anticipate security screening procedures on par with those implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), naturally leading to potential delays.