Video shows moment shooter tried to storm White House dinner, officials say
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal prosecutors released edited security footage showing Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attempting to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and shoot a Secret Service agent while trying to reach Donald Trump.
- The video, shared by top federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, shows Allen casing the hotel beforehand and includes four muzzle flashes from the agent firing at Allen, but it is unclear if Allen fired his weapon.
- Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated Allen was stopped after tripping over a metal detector box and confirmed Allen was not hit by the agent’s gunfire; he also maintained Allen fired first, hitting the agent.
- Public defenders for Allen and independent video analysis have challenged the claim that Allen fired first, noting no clear evidence of Allen discharging his weapon and questioning ballistic proof.
- Allen faces charges including attempted assassination of the president, firearm transportation to commit a felony, and unlawful discharge of a firearm; he has not yet entered a plea.
