Nicolai Haugsted
Secret Service officers made a disturbing discovery inside a vehicle parked near Trump’s residence.
Security around the White House remains one of the most demanding responsibilities facing American law enforcement, particularly as authorities continue to confront threats against political figures.
But a routine encounter with a man sleeping inside a parked pickup truck in Washington, D.C., has raised fresh concerns about the dangers facing President Donald Trump.
What initially appeared to be a simple welfare check quickly became a serious security investigation after officers discovered multiple firearms and heard a disturbing explanation for why the man had traveled to the nation’s capital.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a 26-year-old Venezuelan national allegedly told officers that voices inside his head had instructed him to travel to Washington and kill the president.
The suspect, identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, was arrested Thursday night near the White House and now faces numerous weapons and vehicle-related charges.
Officers discovered three firearms inside the vehicle
According to a court affidavit, a Secret Service officer approached a blue Ford F-150 parked along Constitution Avenue at approximately 11:42 p.m. Thursday.
Chrinos was reportedly asleep inside the vehicle when the officer woke him.
Authorities initially approached the situation as a welfare check, but the encounter became considerably more serious after Chrinos began communicating through Google Translate.
The suspect reportedly told the officer that he possessed firearms and wanted to surrender them to the government.
According to the affidavit, Chrinos told investigators:
“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.”
He allegedly provided another explanation for possessing one of the weapons.
“I have the gun because they tried to kill me with it, and I had to take it away from them; it’s in the brown bag.”
Officers subsequently searched the vehicle and discovered an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 handgun, a Glock 43X pistol and ammunition, according to DHS.
Authorities also determined that the pickup truck had been reported stolen.
Suspect allegedly claimed voices told him to assassinate Trump
The most alarming allegation emerged from the suspect’s reported explanation for traveling to Washington.
In a statement released Friday, DHS described what Chrinos allegedly told Secret Service personnel during the encounter.
“When they confronted the suspect, he said that he heard voices in his head telling him to come to Washington, D.C. and kill President Trump,” the department stated.
Officials have not publicly established whether Chrinos had developed a specific plan to attack the president or whether he had attempted to approach the White House itself.
The reported statement nevertheless prompted serious concern, particularly given the weapons discovered inside the vehicle.
According to the court affidavit, Chrinos also told investigators that he had purchased the firearms approximately one month earlier.
He reportedly claimed that the pickup truck belonged to his employer, who had allowed him to borrow it, and that he had been living inside the vehicle.
Those statements have not been independently verified, and authorities have not provided a detailed account of the suspect’s activities before his arrest.
Authorities reveal his immigration history
DHS also released information about Chrinos’ immigration status.
According to the department, the Venezuelan national entered the United States illegally in 2024.
Border Patrol agents subsequently arrested him, but he was later released, federal officials said.
The department did not explain the circumstances surrounding his release or provide further information about his immigration proceedings.
His immigration status has now become another element of a case already involving serious allegations concerning firearms, a reportedly stolen vehicle and statements about the president.
However, authorities have not publicly identified a connection between his immigration history and the alleged threat against Trump.
A lengthy list of criminal charges
Chrinos faces numerous criminal charges following his arrest.
According to DHS, the charges include carrying a rifle outside a home or business, three counts of unlawfully transporting firearms, three counts involving unregistered firearms and three counts concerning unregistered ammunition.
Additional charges include possession of certain dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property.
A federal law enforcement source said prosecutors were reviewing the evidence and that Chrinos was expected to appear in federal court on Monday.
He remained in custody as of Friday.
Authorities have not confirmed whether he has retained legal representation, and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.
The charges announced by DHS primarily concern weapons and the vehicle. Officials have not announced a separate attempted-assassination charge.
The incident has also prompted a response from Secret Service Director Sean Curran, who praised the handling of the encounter while expressing concern about the broader threat environment.
“While our personnel are trained to respond to situations like this and we remain confident in our tactics, we are alarmed by the increase in threat cases that continue to arise,” Curran said in a statement.
The director emphasized the importance of training and de-escalation when officers encounter potentially volatile situations.
