On Thursday evening, the U.S. Secret Service apprehended a Venezuelan national, residing in the country illegally, who was parked on Constitution Avenue, mere steps from the White House complex. The individual was found with three firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition inside a stolen vehicle. He reportedly claimed he was hearing voices instructing him to kill President Donald Trump.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement indicating that agents approached the suspect after observing suspicious behavior inside the car. Upon confrontation, the man confessed that voices in his head directed him to travel to Washington, D.C., with the mission of assassinating the President.
The suspect was identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos.
Upon searching the vehicle—reported stolen—the agents discovered an AR-15-style rifle, a Mac 10 pistol, and a Glock 43X, along with several rounds of ammunition.
Guanipa Chrinos is facing a slew of charges, including possessing a rifle outside of a home or business, three counts of illegal transportation of firearms, three counts of unregistered firearms, three counts of unregistered ammunition, possession of dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a vehicle, theft, and receiving stolen property.
Following his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer, and the suspect was placed under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The DHS clarified that Guanipa Chrinos entered the U.S. illegally via Texas in March 2024, was apprehended by Border Patrol, and later released during the Biden administration.
"Thanks to our courageous Secret Service agents, this illegal immigrant, armed with three firearms in his vehicle, was apprehended near the White House before causing harm," stated Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
"In addition to threatening President Trump, this individual, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, shouldn't have been in our country. This incident exemplifies the extraordinary work conducted daily by the men and women of the Secret Service, who risk their lives to protect our nation's leaders. It's an honor to collaborate with Director Sean Curran and all the patriots at the United States Secret Service," Mullin added.
Sean Curran, Director of the U.S. Secret Service, emphasized, "This episode is the latest testament to how our personnel, leveraging their extensive training and experience, successfully defused a volatile situation that posed a direct threat to those under our protection and to other American citizens."
"This incident underscores the heightened risk environment in which we operate and the ongoing allure of the White House complex to armed individuals. While our personnel are trained to handle situations like this, and we have full confidence in our tactics, the increasing number of threats remains a concern. The Secret Service will continue to focus on proactive investigation and identification of individuals who pose threats to those we protect, aiming to neutralize these threats before they reach Washington," Curran warned.
This arrest is part of a string of serious incidents recorded in 2026. In February, an armed man stormed Mar-a-Lago and was killed in a shootout with the Secret Service. In April, Cole Tomas Allen invaded the White House Correspondents' Dinner armed and was charged with attempting to assassinate the President; an agent survived due to his bulletproof vest. In May, another individual opened fire on agents near the White House and was fatally shot.
Key Details on the Arrest Near the White House
Who was the individual arrested near the White House?
The individual arrested was Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally.
What weapons were found in the suspect's vehicle?
Agents found an AR-15-style rifle, a Mac 10 pistol, and a Glock 43X, along with numerous rounds of ammunition in the suspect's vehicle.
What charges is Guanipa Chrinos facing?
Guanipa Chrinos faces charges including illegal transportation of firearms, possession of dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a license, and theft, among others.
How did the authorities become aware of the threat?
Secret Service agents approached the suspect after noticing suspicious behavior in the vehicle, which led to the confession and subsequent arrest.