A gunman who tried to make his way to a reception in Washington, D.C., where U.S. President Donald Trump was in attendance has been charged with attempted assassination of the U.S. president as well as illegal possession of a firearm.
The defendant is 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance, California. He pleaded not guilty at the hearing.
Allen was armed with a handgun, shotgun and several knives, according to authorities.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch said Sunday that a motive for the attack has not been confirmed, but suggested Allen likely intended to target the president and other senior administration officials. Blanch also said Allen initially communicated with officials but was no longer cooperating with law enforcement.
On April 25, shots rang out in Washington, D.C., during the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner at the Hilton Hotel. United States President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak at the event.
After the sounds of gunshots, Trump and members of his team were immediately removed from the stage. According to preliminary reports, he was not injured. As a result of the shooting, a Secret Service agent was wounded.
According to media reports, an armed man stormed into the ballroom, causing panic – people hid under tables and lay down on the floor. The attacker was stopped at the security perimeter and apprehended.
This is not the first assassination attempt on Trump. In July 2024, during a rally in Pennsylvania, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks wounded the politician with a bullet in his ear. Two spectators were also injured and one person was killed in that assassination attempt.
USA: The gunman in Washington has been formally charged with attempting to assassinate the US president