Cole Allen, the suspect in Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, was charged with attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. In a note, Allen vowed to target administration officials, as per a criminal complaint.
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and engineer from California, is accused of opening fire outside the packed ballroom at the Washington Hilton. The ballroom was where Trump and other White House officials gathered with journalists for a dinner. Allen appeared in court on Monday, dressed in a blue jumpsuit, accompanied by U.S. Marshals.
Allen was charged with attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, a charge that carries a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted.
He was also charged with transportation of a firearm and ammunition through interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The third count Allen was charged with was discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, which can carry a sentence of an additional term of mandatory minimum of 10 years.
Jocelyn Ballantine, an assistant U.S. attorney, reported that Allen traveled to Washington armed with a pump-action shotgun, a semi-automatic pistol, three knives, and other dangerous items. She urged the court to hold Allen in pre-trial detention. Allen’s attorneys countered that he has no prior criminal charges and is presumed innocent.
The judge set a date for a detention hearing on Thursday.
At approximately 8:40 p.m. on Saturday, Allen approached a security checkpoint located on the terrace level of the hotel. This checkpoint led to the location of the dinner, as noted in a criminal complaint released on Monday afternoon by an FBI special agent.
He then ran through a magnetometer with a long gun, and as he did, U.S. Secret Service personnel at the checkpoint heard a loud gunshot, according to the complaint.
A U.S. Secret Service Officer identified as V.G. was shot once in the chest and was wearing a ballistic vest at the time, the document added.
