Authorities said officers found three firearms and ammunition in a stolen vehicle parked on Constitution Avenue near the White House.
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Secret Service officers arrested a man near the White House after authorities said he threatened to kill President Donald Trump and was found with three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition in a stolen vehicle.
The suspect, identified by authorities as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, was taken into custody Thursday night after a Secret Service officer approached a vehicle parked on Constitution Avenue. The Department of Homeland Security said Chrinos told officers that he had heard voices directing him to travel to Washington and kill Trump. Court records cited by ABC News provide additional details about the encounter but do not include that alleged statement about Trump.
According to a criminal complaint, a Secret Service officer on patrol noticed a blue Ford F-150 shortly before midnight and approached the vehicle. When the officer asked Chrinos whether he had any weapons, Chrinos indicated that he did, the complaint says. Investigators later determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Authorities said officers found three firearms inside the vehicle, including an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10-type firearm and a Glock 43X pistol. They also recovered dozens of rounds of ammunition. No shots were fired during the encounter, and authorities did not report any injuries.
Chrinos faces several firearms and property-related charges. Authorities said the counts include carrying firearms without required licenses or registrations, unlawful transportation of firearms, possession of unregistered ammunition, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property. The charges are allegations, and the case has not been adjudicated.
Chrinos made an initial appearance Friday in D.C. Superior Court and was being held without bond, according to court records reviewed by ABC News. DHS said he remained in U.S. Marshals Service custody. It was not immediately clear from the available reports whether an attorney representing him had been publicly identified.
DHS described Chrinos as a Venezuelan national who entered the United States through Texas in March 2024 and was later released after being taken into Border Patrol custody. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer seeking custody if he becomes eligible for release, according to authorities.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the encounter demonstrated the importance of officers’ training in responding to potentially dangerous situations near protected locations. The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the president and securing the White House complex, where officers regularly patrol surrounding streets and public areas.
The arrest comes amid continuing concern over threats against Trump and other public officials. Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, when a gunman fired from a nearby rooftop, killing one attendee and wounding Trump and two others. Authorities have investigated additional threats against Trump since then, though officials have not publicly linked those cases to Thursday’s arrest.
The White House referred questions about the incident to DHS and the Secret Service. As of Friday night, authorities had not announced additional charges or publicly released further findings about the alleged threat. The criminal case remains pending.
Author note: Last updated November 6, 2026.