Armed Venezuelan man arrested near White House, told Secret Service he planned to kill Trump

A man armed with three firearms was arrested within blocks of the White House on Thursday night after allegedly telling Secret Service officers he intended to kill President Trump, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The suspect, identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos of Venezuela, was parked on Constitution Avenue when officers noticed him behaving oddly and moved in, DHS said in a Friday release.

A law enforcement source told CBS News the encounter happened in the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue NW, near the Ellipse. Per DHS, Guanipa Chrinos told the officers he had heard voices in his head telling him to travel to Washington and assassinate the president. Officers also discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen, and the suspect allegedly admitted weapons were inside.

The search turned up three firearms, including a rifle, plus dozens of rounds of ammunition, DHS said, releasing a photo of the seized haul. Guanipa Chrinos now faces three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, carrying unregistered firearms and carrying unregistered ammunition, along with single counts of possessing certain dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property.

DHS said the suspect entered the U.S. through Texas in March 2024, was picked up by Border Patrol and later released. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. Secret Service Director Sean Curran praised his officers for deescalating "a volatile situation that posed an imminent threat to our protectees and other Americans," while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the arrest came "before he could harm anyone."

Trump has faced repeated assassination attempts since entering politics. In July 2024, a sniper opened fire from a rooftop at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and wounding Trump and two others. In April, a gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton while Trump and first lady Melania Trump were present; the suspect was arrested and a Secret Service officer was wounded.