A 26-year-old Venezuelan national is in custody following a high-stakes security encounter near the White House, where he was allegedly found in possession of several firearms and made explicit threats against President Donald Trump. The U.S. Secret Service apprehended the suspect, identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, after law enforcement officers discovered multiple weapons and ammunition inside a vehicle parked in the vicinity of the presidential residence.
The incident occurred on Thursday, November 5, when officers performing a welfare check encountered Chrinos sleeping in a blue Ford F-150 pickup truck at approximately 11:42 p.m. According to an affidavit filed by a Secret Service officer, the interaction began as a routine check but quickly escalated after Chrinos communicated his intent using a translation application. During the exchange, the suspect reportedly informed authorities that he was carrying weapons inside the truck and intended to surrender them to the government.
Court documents reveal that Chrinos made a series of disturbing claims during his interaction with the police. Using Google Translate to bridge the language barrier, the suspect allegedly told the officers that voices in his head had commanded him to travel to Washington, D.C., for the purpose of killing President Donald Trump. Furthermore, he claimed that he was in possession of items that others had allegedly attempted to kill him over, stating, "I have the item they wanted to kill me over, along with the outfit to go with it; if you want, I can hand it over without putting up any resistance."
Upon searching the vehicle, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that officers recovered three firearms, specifically an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 handgun, and a Glock 43X pistol, along with a cache of ammunition. Chrinos reportedly told investigators that he had purchased the weapons roughly a month prior to his arrest and had been living inside the pickup truck. He claimed the vehicle belonged to his employer; however, official records indicated that the truck had previously been reported as stolen, adding further complexity to the ongoing investigation.
The arrest has prompted significant concern regarding security protocols in the nation’s capital, particularly given the suspect's status as a foreign national who authorities say entered the United States illegally. The Department of Homeland Security is currently handling the investigation into how the suspect obtained the weapons and the nature of his movements leading up to the encounter near the White House. Following the discovery of the firearms and the alleged threats, authorities filed multiple charges against Chrinos.
As the legal process moves forward, federal prosecutors are expected to scrutinize the suspect's background and his claims regarding the motive for his presence in Washington. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges faced by the Secret Service in protecting the executive branch. Details regarding the suspect's mental state and potential co-conspirators are likely to emerge as the court proceedings continue in the coming weeks.
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