Washington: A man has been arrested near the White House in Washington after allegedly telling US Secret Service officers that voices in his head were instructing him to kill President Donald Trump, authorities said.
The arrest took place on Thursday night after Secret Service officers approached a man identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, who was reportedly behaving suspiciously inside a parked vehicle, according to a statement from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Officials said Chrinos told officers that he had heard voices directing him to travel to the US capital and kill the Republican president.
Officers subsequently discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen. A search also uncovered three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition, the DHS statement said.
Chrinos has been charged and remains in the custody of the US Marshals Service.
DHS identifies suspect as Venezuelan national
The DHS statement described Chrinos as a Venezuelan national who was living in the United States illegally. Authorities said he entered the country through Texas in March 2024.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised the Secret Service officers for the arrest.
"Thanks to our brave Secret Service officers, this illegal alien with three firearms in his vehicle was arrested near the White House before he could harm anyone," Mullin said in the statement.
The White House did not issue a separate comment, referring questions to DHS and the US Secret Service.
Latest in a series of threats against Trump
The arrest comes amid a series of cases involving individuals accused of threatening the lives of Trump or members of his family since he returned to office last year.
The Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies have investigated and made arrests in several such cases.
