Secret Service Detains Venezuelan National Armed Near White House
Agents seized a rifle and two handguns from a stolen vehicle driven by a man who claimed voices instructed him to kill the president.
By Meera Fletcher ·
Secret Service agents took Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos into custody on Thursday after finding him in a stolen vehicle near the White House grounds. The Venezuelan national, who entered the United States illegally in 2024, allegedly threatened to kill President Donald Trump before officers secured the car.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that agents noticed Chrinos acting suspiciously in a car parked along the perimeter of the White House. When officers confronted the suspect, he stated that he heard voices in his head telling him to come to Washington, D.C., and kill the president. The officers determined the vehicle had been reported stolen, and Chrinos admitted to possessing weapons inside.
A search of the car revealed a rifle and two handguns, along with dozens of rounds of ammunition. Chrinos faces multiple charges, including unauthorized use of a vehicle and receiving stolen property, in addition to numerous firearms counts. He is currently held by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sean Curran, director of the U.S. Secret Service, addressed the incident in a release, noting that the event demonstrates the agency's training in de-escalating volatile situations. Curran described the scene as an imminent threat to protectees and other Americans. He added that the incident reflects a heightened threat environment and the continued presence of armed individuals drawn to the White House complex.
The Secret Service has observed a rise in incidents involving individuals with mental health issues near the presidential residence. Officials indicate that the White House and the presidency often serve as symbolic focal points for people experiencing such conditions. This incident follows a similar event in May, when Secret Service officers shot and killed a man with a history of mental health issues after he opened fire near a security checkpoint.
Chrinos’s status as an undocumented immigrant and his admission to hearing voices place the arrest within the ongoing scrutiny of security protocols around the executive branch. The discovery of multiple firearms in a stolen vehicle underscores the specific risks agents manage when confronting suspects in close proximity to the White House.
