Cole Allen, the California man accused of trying to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner armed with guns and knives, was on Monday charged with the attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump.
Allen appeared in court following a chaotic incident in which shots were fired, Trump was rushed offstage, and guests took cover 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.
The 31-year-old from Torrance, California, was arrested after the Saturday night shooting and is being prosecuted in federal court in Washington. Officials said a police officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was struck but is expected to recover.
Prosecutors have not disclosed a motive. However, authorities say that in a message sent to family members minutes before the attack, Allen described himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” made repeated references to the president without naming him, and alluded to grievances related to several actions of the Trump administration.
Investigators are examining the message, along with social media posts and interviews with family members, as key evidence of his mindset and possible motives.
In a video shared by Trump, a man — whom authorities say was armed — is seen running past a security barricade as Secret Service agents moved in.
Records indicate Allen is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A social media profile matching his name and appearance suggests he worked part-time for the past six years at a company providing admissions counselling and test preparation services to prospective college students.
(With AP inputs)
