Suspect at White House correspondents’ dinner shooting had multiple weapons, bulletproof vest: Trump
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WASHINGTON - A man armed with multiple weapons wearing a bulletproof vest charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, wounding a law enforcement officer, President Donald Trump said.
The New York Times reported that the man was identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, citing multiple law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose the information.
Mr Trump, speaking at a press briefing at the White House, described the man as a “would-be assassin” and a “lone wolf”.
“He’s in custody and they’re asking him a lot of questions,” he added.
The suspect will appear before a district judge on April 27 for arraignment, the federal prosecutor said.
According to US Attorney Jeanine Piro, the suspect will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Mr Trump said the incident was “probably a lone shooter” and indicated that police were searching the suspect’s residence in California.
The President said there had been no indication of additional potential threats.
He said: “One officer was shot but saved by the fact that he was wearing a, obviously, a very good bulletproof vest.
“We looked at all of the conditions that took place tonight, and I will say, you know, it’s not a particularly secure building.”
The officer is “doing great”, Mr Trump said.
US President Donald Trump posted a photo, showing the alleged shooter, on his Truth Social account.
PHOTO: DONALD J. TRUMP/TRUTH SOCIAL
Asked if he was the man’s intended target, Mr Trump said: “I guess.”
“As you know this is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill,” he said.
“In light of this evening’s events, I asked that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolving our differences peacefully.”
Mr Trump said he felt there was no reason to believe the attack was connected to the war in Iran.
“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran,” he told reporters. “I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know.”
Mr Trump was joined in the White House briefing room by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel and Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche.
Mr Blanche said the investigation was ongoing and that authorities expected to file charges shortly.
Mr Patel said that law enforcement officials were already conducting investigations and that an evidence response unit was examining the ballistics from the scene, including a “long gun and the shell casings”.
Reuters, citing a security official, said the suspect has been taken to hospital for evaluation.
The police chief said they believe the suspect was a guest at the hotel, based on preliminary information. REUTERS, AFP, BLOOMBERG
