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New court documents show a man accused of entering State Farm Stadium, where the late Charlie Kirk is set to be memorialized on Sunday, had multiple guns, knives and fake law enforcement badges, and according to a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) spokesperson, was on site Saturday “doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service.”
The Glendale, Arizona NFL stadium is hosting Kirk’s memorial event, which is expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees.
Joshua Runkles was charged Saturday with felony impersonation of a law enforcement officer, and misdemeanor carrying a weapon into a prohibited place, according to court documents.
He was released on bond after being booked into the Maricopa County Jail, an Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson said.
Workers installed a photo of Charlie Kirk on the exterior of State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., ahead of his memorial service there on Sunday, Sept. 21. (Reuters/Cheney Orr)
TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet released a statement on X clarifying Runkles was “doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service.”
“We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or US Secret Service,” Kolvet wrote. “Also important to note that this was before the site had been fully sealed and locked down. Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Probably cause documents state Runkles gained access into State Farm Stadium Friday afternoon armed with a loaded pistol, revolver, and several knives—after disobeying a DPS trooper who told him he was not allowed to be armed.
He allegedly told authorities he was in the stadium working on a security detail for Turning Point USA, and presented a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office badge and an Idaho law enforcement identification card.
A security guard keeps watch over at State Farm Stadium for Sunday’s memorial service for Charlie Kirk, Glendale, Arizona, on Friday, September 19, 2025. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Court documents note Runkles is not associated with, or employed by, the sheriff’s office as the badge and ID card represented.
A federal source familiar with the investigation had also told Fox News that the man was a former law enforcement member from another state.
CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi previously said Runkles was approached by Secret Service and told them during the encounter that he was a member of law enforcement and that he was armed.
Runkles has a Conceal Carry Weapon (CCW) permit issued in North Carolina, though it is unclear if that is where he resides.
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah, prior to his assassination. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA
The development comes as police are expecting approximately 100,000 people to attend Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium and an overflow arena on Sunday, Sept. 21, according to media reports.
State Farm Stadium has fixed seating for 63,400 and can expand to over 73,000 for larger events, according to the venue.
The Department of Homeland Security also designated the memorial service as a “Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1,” which is “reserved for events of the highest national significance” and the same severity as the Super Bowl.
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Erika Kirk, who is Charlie Kirk’s widow, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are among those set to speak at the event.
Fox News’ Jeff Paul, Alex Nitzberg and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
