Suspect in White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting to appear in federal court today
THE suspected shooter in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will appear Monday in federal court in Washington, D.C.
President Trump was evacuated after gunfire. the annual media dinner, which was sold out with more than 2,500 politicians, journalists and celebrities on Saturday evening. Authorities said a Secret Service agent was hit by a bullet but was protected by a bulletproof vest and has since been released from the hospital.
Authorities were able to arrest and apprehend the suspect, who was evaluated at a local hospital before being transferred to a Washington, D.C. jail. The suspect was identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Saturday evening that Allen would be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, and predicted he would face more charges Monday.
“It is clear from what we know so far that this individual intended to do as much harm and damage as he could, and fortunately, thanks to the checkpoint just outside the ballroom where thousands of people were there to hear the President of the United States, that checkpoint worked,” Pirro said. “No one was injured, but it was clear where this defendant was going.”
The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation and the Secret Service is investigating the suspect’s background to understand what precipitated the shooting.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday that investigators believe the suspect was targeting Trump administration officials.
CBS News obtained a copy of what investigators believe to be a “manifesto” written by Allen and left behind. In his alleged writings, Allen said he planned the attack because he did not want the administration’s “crimes” to “cover up” [his] hands. ” He did not refer to Mr. Trump or the event by name, but reportedly said he intended to target administration officials “as a priority, from the highest rank to the lowest.”
