Alleged Gunman at White House Correspondents' Dinner to Appear in Court
31-year-old Cole Allen charged with assault on federal officer after shooting at Washington Hilton where President Trump was attending annual journalism event
L'essentiel
- Cole Allen, 31, the alleged gunman in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, is scheduled to make his first court appearance today.
- Allen was arrested before reaching the ballroom where President Trump and administration officials were gathered.
- One Secret Service agent was shot in his protective vest and not seriously injured.
Résumé généré par IA
The alleged gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Sunday. While police have not formally identified the suspect, NPR confirmed the identity of 31-year-old Cole Allen with two people familiar with the investigation who aren't authorized to speak publicly.
Authorities say Allen charged through a security perimeter at the Washington Hilton, where President Trump and other top administration officials were gathered for the annual event with journalists. Law enforcement arrested Allen before he could reach the ballroom. One Secret Service agent was shot in his protective vest and not seriously injured.
Allen faces charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.
NPR's Tamara Keith, who was in the ballroom at the time of the incident, describes what happened as tense and scary. She tells Up First that the shooting came at the end of a bad week for Trump politically. He is facing his lowest-ever approval ratings as the war with Iran drags on. Keith says that while this incident temporarily shifts the focus from these issues, it feeds into the unease she hears from voters about how chaotic and divided the country feels.
The investigation is still in the early stages. Authorities are still investigating his motive, NPR's Ryan Lucas says. A White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity told NPR that Allen's brother notified law enforcement a few minutes before the incident about a letter Allen had written and sent to family members. Allen's sister told law enforcement that her brother mentioned a plan to do something to address issues in today's world.
During a press conference after the shooting, Trump said he does not think Allen's motive could be the war with Iran. The potential peace talks between Iran and the U.S. remain on hold.
