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A memorial service for slain pundit Charlie Kirk is set to take place in Arizona on Sunday.
The event is expected to be attended by up to 100,000 mourners, with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance addressing the crowd.
But another violent incident may have been averted by Secret Service agents who have detained an unidentified armed man at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, speaks during a Turning Point PAC town hall at Dream City Church on June 06, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)The suspect is currently in federal custody.
Secret Service apprehends armed man after spotting ‘suspicious’ behavior
According to a report from TMZ, the man was spotted “acting suspiciously” near the stadium. When authorities approached the suspect, he falsely claimed to be law enforcement.
Federal authorities say the memorial has been designated a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official explains that the designation is used for “significant events with national and/or international importance that require extensive federal interagency support,” like the Super Bowl.
Former US President Donald Trump walks on stage after being introduced by Charlie Kirk (L) at the Turning Point Action conference as he continues his 2024 presidential campaign on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)State Farm Stadium expected to draw upward of 100,000 mourners
Kirk was born and raised near Chicago, but his wife, Erika Kirk, is a native of the Phoenix area and a former Miss Arizona.
Earlier this week, she transported his remains from Utah to Glendale aboard Air Force 2, in the company of Vance and his wife, Usha Vance.
This week also saw Erika appointed CEO of Charlie’s organization, Turning Point USA.
Charlie Kirk speaks at the opening of the Turning Point Action conference on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)It’s unclear at this time what the armed man may have been doing near the memorial site.
Numerous high-profile politicians and public figures are expected to attend tomorrow’s service, with the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., also slated to address the crowd.
The memorial is set to take place at 2 pm EST on Sunday.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
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