Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, an armed Venezuelan national, has been arrested near the White House after threatening to kill Donald Trump, federal officials said.
Secret Service officers took him into custody on Thursday along Constitution Avenue in Washington after observing suspicious activity inside a parked car. Officers approached the vehicle and discovered three firearms inside, alongside dozens of rounds of ammunition.
Investigators confirmed that the car had previously been reported stolen. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Guanipa Chrinos told agents that he had been hearing voices in his head commanding him to drive to the capital to kill Trump.
Weapons recovered on Constitution Avenue
Agents recovered an AR-15 style rifle and two pistols from the car during the search. Constitution Avenue runs directly south of the White House grounds, connecting government departments and monuments across the National Mall.
Due to its proximity to the presidential residence, the corridor is patrolled continuously by the United States Secret Service, the federal agency tasked with protecting the president and executive grounds. AR-15 platform rifles are semi-automatic firearms fed by detachable magazines, and carrying loaded weapons in the capital without a local permit is strictly prohibited by law.
Immigration history and federal detainer
Guanipa Chrinos entered the United States unlawfully through Texas in March 2024, the Department of Homeland Security said. Although US Border Patrol agents apprehended him near the border at that time, authorities released him into the country during the administration of former president Joe Biden.
Under federal immigration policy, Border Patrol agents process non-citizens arriving between official ports of entry, frequently releasing individuals into the interior with notices to appear before an immigration judge.
Following the Washington arrest, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer against Guanipa Chrinos with the US Marshals Service, which is holding him in custody. An immigration detainer requests that a detention facility hold a suspect for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be freed, allowing federal agents time to take custody for deportation.
Secret Service security review
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the incident reflected growing concern within the agency over armed individuals approaching the White House perimeter, American media reported. Curran stated that agents successfully brought the situation under control.
Curran affirmed that the Secret Service will continue identifying and investigating people who pose a danger to individuals under federal protection. The agency oversees round-the-clock physical security operations across Washington to shield executive leaders and visiting heads of state from potential threats.
