Game developer Cole Allen has been identified as a suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Cole Allen, the California man accused of trying to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner armed with guns and knives, was charged Monday with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump.Allen appeared in court after a chaotic incident during which shots were fired, Trump was carried off the stage, and guests hid under tables. He also faces charges of transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. He did not enter a plea.
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The 31-year-old from Torrance, California, was arrested after the shooting Saturday night and is being tried in federal court in Washington.
A police officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was injured but is expected to recover, officials said.Prosecutors did not reveal the motive. However, authorities say that in a letter sent to family members minutes before the attack, Allen described himself as a “friendly federal assassin,” repeatedly referred to the president without naming him, and alluded to injustices related to several of the Trump administration’s actions.
Investigators are examining the letter, along with social media posts and interviews with family members, as key evidence of his mentality and possible motives.In a video shared by Trump, a man — who authorities say was armed — is seen running past a security barrier as Secret Service agents enter.Records indicate that Allen is a highly educated teacher and amateur video game developer. A social media profile matching his name and appearance indicates he has worked part-time for the past six years at a company that provides admissions counseling and test preparation services to prospective college students.(with AP input)
