US WHCA shooting suspect took photo with knife: police
In the case file submitted to the court by the authorities, it was stated that a man accused of raiding the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and trying to kill US President Donald Trump took a photo of himself with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster and a sheathed knife in his hotel room a few minutes ago.
Authorities said Cole Allen wore black pants, a black shirt and a red tie when he took the photo in his room at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and hundreds of reporters met for the gala Saturday night.
They say Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., was caught when he tried to speed past security barricades near the hotel ballroom, prompting an exchange of gunfire between Secret Service agents assigned to guard the event.
New details emerged in the file submitted to the court by prosecutors who wanted Allen to remain in custody.
The U.S. government said Allen made repeated online checks to monitor Trump’s condition that night, including a livestream of the president exiting his vehicle at the Hilton hotel.
Investigators said the prearranged emails, which included an “Apology and Explanation” attachment, were sent around 8:30 p.m.
“He intended to kill and discharged his shotgun while attempting to breach security and attack his target. Simply put, the defendant poses an unusually serious danger to the public if released pending trial. The defendant’s lack of criminal history and other personal circumstances do not alter this conclusion,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones wrote.
Trump escaped unharmed.
A Secret Service officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot through the vest and survived.
Allen appeared in court on Monday and was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, as federal authorities suggested an attack that disrupted one of Washington, D.C.’s most spectacular events had been planned for at least several weeks.
He did not speak at length, as is customary during a speedy hearing.
One of his lawyers, Tezira Abe, stated that he had no criminal record and said that “he is currently considered innocent.”
Republican Trump was escorted off stage by his security team on Saturday night and emerged at the White House two hours later, still wearing his tuxedo.
“When you’re effective, they come after you. When you’re not impressive, they leave you alone,” Trump said.
“They think he’s a lone wolf.”
An FBI affidavit filed Monday revealed further details about the planning behind the attack; authorities alleged that Allen reserved a room for himself at a Washington, D.C. hotel on April 6, where the event was to be held weeks later under typically tight security.
He traveled across the country from California by train last week, checking into the Washington Hilton with a room reserved for the weekend the day before dinner.
