Armed Man Arrested Near White House With Rifle and Two Handguns in Stolen Car

Secret Service officers arrested a 26-year-old man near the White House late on Thursday night after finding a rifle and two handguns inside a stolen pickup truck, federal officials said. The man told officers he had heard voices telling him to come to Washington and kill President Trump. The arrest, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Friday, November 6, 2026, has renewed focus on security around the White House complex.

Key Points

• Secret Service officers arrested Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, 26, late on Thursday, November 6, 2026, after spotting him acting suspiciously in a parked blue Ford F-150 on Constitution Avenue alongside the White House.
• Officers found an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 and a Glock 43X in the vehicle, plus dozens of rounds of ammunition, after Chrinos admitted he had weapons in the truck.
• Chrinos told officers he heard voices in his head telling him to come to Washington, D.C., and kill President Donald Trump, according to a court affidavit and the Department of Homeland Security.
• He faces 15 counts, including carrying a rifle outside a home or business, unlawful transportation of a firearm, unregistered firearms and ammunition, and unauthorised use of a motor vehicle.
• The Department of Homeland Security says Chrinos is a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally through Texas in March 2024, and ICE has lodged a detainer with the US Marshals Service.

What Happened

According to a court affidavit, Secret Service officers noticed Chrinos acting suspiciously in the parked blue Ford F-150 on Constitution Avenue, beside the White House. Officers approached the vehicle at 11:42 p.m. local time on Thursday and found him asleep inside.

Chrinos told officers he heard voices in his head telling him to come to Washington and kill the president, the Department of Homeland Security said. Officers then checked the vehicle and found it had been reported stolen. Chrinos admitted he had weapons inside, and a search recovered the AR-15-style rifle, the MAC-10 submachine gun-style pistol and the Glock 43X handgun, plus dozens of rounds of ammunition. The arrest was made without incident and without any shots being fired, and no one was hurt.

Background: Security Around the White House

The White House is one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the United States. The Secret Service's Uniformed Division patrols the grounds and surrounding streets around the clock, and Constitution Avenue runs directly past the northern side of the White House grounds.

Washington, D.C., also has some of the strictest firearms laws in the country. Carrying a rifle outside a home or business, possessing unregistered firearms or ammunition, and carrying a pistol without a licence are all criminal offences in the District. Federal officials said Chrinos is a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally through Texas in March 2024, was arrested by Border Patrol and then released into the country.

Armed Man Arrested Near White House: The 15 Charges He Faces

Chrinos faces 15 counts in total. The most serious relate to the weapons in the truck: carrying a rifle outside a home or business, and three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, unregistered firearms and unregistered ammunition. He is also charged with possession of certain dangerous weapons and carrying a pistol without a licence.

The remaining counts relate to the vehicle: unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property, after officers found the Ford F-150 had been reported stolen. He could face substantial prison time if convicted on all counts, though no court date or plea had been reported.

Reactions and Quotes

Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the incident reflects a growing threat from armed people drawn to the White House complex. His comment underlines a concern the agency has raised repeatedly: that the White House continues to attract people who arrive armed and fixated on the president, and that patrol officers are often the first and only line of defence.

The Department of Homeland Security pointed to the weapons recovered and to Chrinos's own statement to officers. No statement from his lawyer had been reported, and it was not immediately clear whether he had entered a plea.

Why It Matters

The arrest matters for two reasons. First, it was a direct threat against the president, made by a man who had brought three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition to within a short distance of the White House. The Secret Service stopped him before he could act, but the case shows how close an armed person can get to the White House before being detected.

Second, the case will feed into the wider debate over border security. The Department of Homeland Security has emphasised that Chrinos entered the United States illegally in March 2024, was arrested by Border Patrol and then released into the country. Supporters of stricter enforcement are likely to cite the case as evidence of the risks of that release policy, while critics will note the arrest itself shows the security system working as intended.

What Happens Next

Chrinos will remain in US Marshals Service custody while his criminal case proceeds in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors will present the charges in court, where he will be asked to enter a plea, and a judge will decide on bail and the timetable. The 15 counts, if they all proceed, will be dealt with together.

Immigration proceedings will run alongside the criminal case. ICE has lodged a detainer, asking the Marshals Service to hold Chrinos and notify it before any release, so removal proceedings can begin. Investigators will also want to establish how he obtained the three weapons and the stolen truck, and whether he acted alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was arrested near the White House?
Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, 26, was found asleep in a parked blue Ford F-150 on Constitution Avenue beside the White House and arrested late on Thursday, November 6, 2026.

What weapons were found in the truck?
Officers found an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 and a Glock 43X handgun, plus dozens of rounds of ammunition, after Chrinos admitted he had weapons inside the vehicle.

What did he tell officers?
According to a court affidavit and the Department of Homeland Security, Chrinos told officers he heard voices in his head telling him to come to Washington, D.C., and kill President Donald Trump.

What charges does he face?
He faces 15 counts: carrying a rifle outside a home or business; three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, unregistered firearms and unregistered ammunition; possession of certain dangerous weapons; carrying a pistol without a licence; unauthorised use of a motor vehicle; theft; and receiving stolen property.

Where is he now?
He is in the custody of the US Marshals Service, and ICE has lodged a detainer. The Department of Homeland Security says he is a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally through Texas in March 2024.

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Image: police vehicles and officers near a cordoned-off pickup truck on Constitution Avenue beside the White House at night.