Armed man arrested near West Chester ‘No Kings’ protest 

West Chester, Pa. (WPHL) — A man was arrested Saturday afternoon near the site of a peaceful protest in downtown West Chester after police say he was heavily armed while carrying an unlicensed firearm just steps away from demonstrators.

The incident occurred near the Historic Chester County Courthouse on North High Street, where thousands of people assembled for a local installment of the national “No Kings” protest movement. The event was timed to coincide with the military parade in Washington, D.C., officially labeled to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday. The day also coincided with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. More than 2,000 cities in all 50 states coordinated their demonstrations, including protests in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

In West Chester, Pa.,  police say participants alerted officers who spotted a man behaving suspiciously near the crowd. Officers located the 32-year-old from Malvern walking along North High Street and conducted a pedestrian stop. During the encounter, police discovered the man was carrying a concealed firearm without a valid Pennsylvania license, along with several large magazines.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident. No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.

The man reportedly told police that he was heavily armed because he had seen similar protests across the nation turn violent.

Authorities have not yet released the man’s name, but said he will face charges related to unlawful possession of a firearm. The investigation remains ongoing.

The West Chester Borough Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Law enforcement officials say they were already monitoring the event as a precaution due to the national scope of the protest.

Despite the disruption, the rally continued peacefully after the arrest, with demonstrators calling for protections against authoritarianism and renewed attention to democratic values.