The United States (U.S.) Secret Service has arrested a 26-year-old Venezuelan man near the White House after he allegedly told officers that voices in his head had instructed him to kill President Donald Trump.
The suspect named Ronny Yordix Guanipa Chrinos was taken into custody late Thursday after secret service personnel approached his blue Ford F-150 pickup truck parked on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen before recovering an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 machine pistol, a Glock handgun and dozens of rounds of ammunition.
The suspect allegedly admitted having weapons inside the vehicle and told officers that he had travelled to Washington after hearing voices directing him to kill the 80-year-old Republican leader.
However, an affidavit filed in DC Superior Court did not mention the alleged assassination threat. The court document said officers initially approached Chrinos to check on his welfare and used Google Translate to communicate with him.
He allegedly told investigators that he had taken one of the weapons from people who were trying to kill him. DHS said Chrinos entered the U.S. illegally through Texas in March 2024, where he was apprehended by Border Patrol before being released.
He now faces multiple charges involving firearms, ammunition, vehicle theft and receiving stolen property.
The suspect appeared in court on Friday and was ordered held without bond.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the incident highlighted the growing number of armed individuals approaching the White House complex.
Trump has faced several assassination threats, including a shooting during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024 that left him wounded.Â
