US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced three federal charges against the suspect behind the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. on the night of Saturday, April 25. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a Master's degree holder, is also believed to be an assassin.
Charges Filed
The charges against the suspect include attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment, and two firearms offenses. Blanche detailed the timeline leading up to the shooting incident over the weekend.
Timeline of Events
- On April 6, the suspect booked a reservation at the Washington Hilton.
- On April 21, the gunman traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago by train, then from Chicago to Washington D.C.
- On April 24, the suspect arrived in Washington D.C. at 1:00 PM and checked into the Washington Hilton.
- On April 25, the day of the shooting, the gunman approached a security checkpoint on the terrace level of the hotel, then ran toward the Magnetom area armed with a long gun. Service personnel at the checkpoint heard a loud gunshot, and an officer was hit in the chest but survived because he was wearing a ballistic vest. The officer managed to fire at the suspect, who was not hit but fell to the ground and was immediately arrested.
Evidence Recovered
Authorities confiscated from the suspect a semi-automatic handgun, a pump-action shotgun, and three knives.
Court Appearance
When the suspect appeared in court in Washington D.C. on Monday, local time, he did not enter a plea.
