Correspondents’ dinner suspect faces new charge of assaulting federal officer | White House correspondents’ dinner shooting


Cole Tomas Allen, the suspected gunman at the White House correspondents’ dinner, is facing an additional related charge for assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, federal authorities announced on Tuesday.

The new charge, which formally accuses Allen of firing at a US Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint, is part of a new four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Washington. The other three counts are charges Allen previously faced: attempted assassination, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and illegal transportation of a firearm and ammunition across state lines.

On 25 April, Allen, a 31-year-old California man, allegedly sprinted past a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual press gala was taking place.

Prosecutors allege Allen was running toward the hotel’s ballroom with the intent to assassinate Donald Trump and other senior administration officials, who were dining with roughly 2,500 journalists and other guests.

In Tuesday’s announcement, federal prosecutors claimed that as Allen rushed the security perimeter, he fired a shotgun and hit a Secret Service agent in the chest.

Several other weapons were found in his possession, prosecutors said.

“Today’s indictment underscores a simple truth: there is evidence this defendant intended to assassinate the president, and that he shot a US Secret Service officer after he traversed the country with a cache of ammunition to accomplish his goals,” the US attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, said on Tuesday. “The use of violence to register dissent is anti-democratic at its core. We will pursue the maximum punishment available under the law against anyone who travels to the District of Columbia to engage in such acts.

“As alleged in today’s indictment, the heavily armed defendant rushed security and shot a Secret Service Officer in an attempt to assassinate President Trump – but was stopped thanks to the courageous and immediate response from law enforcement,” said the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche.

The the initial set of charges against Allen did not accuse him of shooting the agent, nor was it mentioned in a court document prosecutors filed on 29 April seeking Allen’s detention.

Pirro released video of the moment Allen charged the security checkpoint last Thursday, claiming the footage showed Allen shooting the Secret Service agent. Pirro told CNN in an interview on Sunday that a pellet that came from Allen’s shotgun recovered at the scene was intertwined with fibers from the vest of the agent.

The agent, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was not seriously injured.

Reuters contributed



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Toronto Maple Leafs secure No. 1 pick after winning NHL draft lottery

    Listen to this article Estimated 2 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review…

    Black people in England twice as likely to suffer stroke as white counterparts | Stroke

    People from black backgrounds in England are twice as likely to experience strokes as their white counterparts, while also being less likely to receive timely care, according to the largest…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Indiana state senator who defied Trump over redistricting loses reelection bid, AP projects

    Indiana state senator who defied Trump over redistricting loses reelection bid, AP projects

    Trump announces pause on US operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz | US-Israel war on Iran News

    Trump announces pause on US operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz | US-Israel war on Iran News

    Alberta UCP staff attended meeting about voter database before app was shut down

    Alberta UCP staff attended meeting about voter database before app was shut down

    Toronto Maple Leafs secure No. 1 pick after winning NHL draft lottery

    Toronto Maple Leafs secure No. 1 pick after winning NHL draft lottery

    SoCS — Life Hacks – Facts, Fictions & Fantasies

    SoCS — Life Hacks – Facts, Fictions & Fantasies

    Trump says he is pausing the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz

    Trump says he is pausing the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz