Circuit Wire — a daily news update from the Circuit.
Secret Service officers arrested a Venezuelan man late on Thursday, November 5, after finding him parked in a stolen vehicle on Constitution Avenue near the White House with three firearms inside, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS identified the man as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos. Officers approached him after they saw him acting suspiciously in his car. He admitted there were weapons inside, and officers recovered three guns, including a rifle, along with dozens of rounds of ammunition. DHS listed the weapons as an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 and a Glock 43X.
A law enforcement source told CBS News that the arrest took place in the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue NW, near the Ellipse and within blocks of the White House. The vehicle had earlier been reported stolen.
According to DHS, Guanipa Chrinos told officers he had heard voices telling him to come to Washington, D.C., and kill President Donald Trump. CBS News reported that he also allegedly told officers he was planning an attempt on the president's life. These statements come from the DHS account and have not been tested in court.
He faces a long list of charges. They include carrying a rifle outside a home or business, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of certain dangerous weapons, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property. He also faces three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, unregistered firearms and unregistered ammunition.
Guanipa Chrinos is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer against him. DHS said he entered the United States through Texas in March 2024, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol and was then released into the country. CBS News reported that it was not clear whether he has a lawyer.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin credited the Secret Service officers who made the arrest. In the same release, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency is "alarmed by the increase in threat cases that continue to arise." We will update this story as court records and further details become available.
Want a weekly roundup of the major stories shaping the security industry? The On The Circuit newsletter is read by more than 12,000 protection professionals.
Spotted something we should cover? Send tips and feedback via circuit-magazine.com.