Venezuelan man arrested near White House with three guns, threatened to kill Trump
An undocumented Venezuelan national was arrested blocks from the White House after telling Secret Service he intended to assassinate President Trump. Three firearms were found in his stolen vehicle.
Armed Venezuelan national detained near White House after threatening Trump's life
An undocumented immigrant from Venezuela was arrested within blocks of the White House on Thursday night after allegedly telling Secret Service officers he had come to Washington to assassinate President Donald Trump, cbsnews.com reported Friday, citing a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The suspect, identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, was taken into custody on Constitution Avenue NW, near the Ellipse, after Secret Service officers observed him acting suspiciously in a parked vehicle. When officers approached and confronted him, Guanipa Chrinos allegedly stated that voices in his head had instructed him to travel to Washington and kill Mr. Trump.
A search of the vehicle uncovered three firearms, including a rifle, along with dozens of rounds of ammunition. DHS released a photograph of the seized weapons. The vehicle had been reported stolen, and the suspect allegedly admitted the weapons were inside before officers conducted the search.
Guanipa Chrinos was charged with three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, carrying unregistered firearms, and carrying unregistered ammunition, as well as single counts of possession of certain dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a licence, unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, theft, and receiving stolen property, DHS said.
DHS said the suspect had entered the United States through Texas in March 2024, was arrested at that time by U.S. Border Patrol, and was subsequently released. It was not immediately clear whether he had legal representation.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement that the incident demonstrated the value of officer training. "This is the latest example of Secret Service personnel relying on extensive training and experience to deescalate a volatile situation that posed an imminent threat to our protectees and other Americans," Curran said.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin separately described the arrest as a preventive success. "Thanks to our brave Secret Service officers, this illegal alien with three firearms in his vehicle was arrested near the White House before he could harm anyone," Mullin said.
Trump has been the target of several assassination attempts since entering political life. In July 2024, a gunman opened fire from a rooftop at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and wounding Trump and two others. More recently, in April, a gunman breached security during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel while Trump and first lady Melania Trump were present; a Secret Service officer was wounded in that incident and the suspect was arrested at the scene.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)