The 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, has been charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump, Al Jazeera reported on Monday.
The charges were detailed in documents made public by the US Justice Department, according to CNN.
The incident took place during the annual event in Washington DC, where the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials were present.
The shooting occurred on Saturday evening at the Washington Hilton, where the suspect allegedly breached a security checkpoint and fired shots before being subdued by security personnel. Authorities confirmed that the President and other key attendees were evacuated safely. One security officer sustained injuries during the response.
Citing Justice Department charging documents, CNN reported that Allen approached and ran through the magnetometer at the venue while holding a long gun. “As he did so, U.S. Secret Service personnel assigned to the checkpoint heard a loud gunshot,” the documents stated. “U.S. Secret Service Officer V.G. was shot once in the chest; Officer V.G. was wearing a ballistic vest at the time.”
Prosecutors have said that Allen faces multiple charges, including attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm with the intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, CNN reported.
According to US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the suspect managed to fire “a couple shots” before being stopped. Speaking to CNN, Blanche said the individual “barely got past the perimeter” and was “immediately subdued” by law enforcement and Secret Service personnel.
