The US Secret Service apprehended a man near the White House on Thursday evening following reports that he had threatened to kill President Donald Trump. According to a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers identified the individual while he was parked on Constitution Avenue in Washington. Upon being approached by authorities, the suspect reportedly claimed he was acting on "voices in his head" that were instructing him to kill the President.
During the interaction, officers determined that the vehicle the man was operating had been reported stolen. The suspect subsequently admitted to the presence of weapons inside the car. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of three separate firearms, including one rifle, along with dozens of rounds of ammunition, leading to his immediate arrest. The suspect has been identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, a Venezuelan national who, according to the DHS, entered the United States illegally through Texas in March 2024.
Chrinos is currently being held by the US Marshals Service and faces multiple charges, including the theft of a vehicle and the possession of dangerous weapons. Following the arrest, Secret Service Director Sean Curran noted that the incident underscores the challenging threat environment currently facing the agency, emphasizing the persistent issue of armed individuals being drawn to the White House complex. While expressing confidence in the training and tactics of his personnel, Curran noted that the agency remains alarmed by the rising number of such threat cases. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also commented on the situation, stating, "Thanks to our brave Secret Service officers, this criminal illegal alien with three firearms in his vehicle was arrested near the White House before he could harm anyone."
