A Venezuelan man was recently apprehended near the White House after allegedly claiming that voices instructed him to kill former President Donald Trump. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that the suspect, identified as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, had three firearms in his vehicle, which was noted to be stolen.
According to DHS, Secret Service agents approached Chrinos while he was parked on Constitution Avenue, behaving suspiciously. Upon questioning, he reportedly told officers that he heard voices telling him to come to Washington and kill Trump.
In a statement, DHS revealed that the 26-year-old man admitted to having weapons inside his car. Following further inquiry, authorities discovered an AR-15 style rifle, a MAC-10 handgun, a Glock 43X pistol, and ammunition. Chrinos was asleep in his vehicle when officers confronted him late Thursday night.
Initially, the situation was treated as a welfare check, but Chrinos used Google Translate to inform the officers about the weapons he wished to surrender. He allegedly stated, “I have the item they wanted to kill me over, along with the outfit to go with it,” indicating his willingness to comply without resistance.
Chrinos, who is believed to have entered the U.S. illegally in 2024, faces multiple charges, including unlawful transportation and possession of firearms. He is currently in custody, with prosecutors reviewing the evidence against him as he awaits a court appearance.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran emphasized the importance of the agents’ training and their capability to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations. He expressed concern over the increasing number of threats targeting public figures, stating, “While our personnel are trained to respond to situations like this, we are alarmed by the increase in threat cases that continue to arise.”
Photo credit: Kevin Carter
