Federal prosecutors on Thursday released a nearly six-minute video showing an alleged attempt to target President Donald Trump at a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington.
The video, shared by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, shows suspect Cole Tomas Allen walking through the venue the day before the murder.
In the alleged video, he can be seen pacing the hallways, briefly entering the hotel gym and engaging in conversation with someone who appears to be the facility’s receptionist.
Suspect rushes through security check
Footage from the night of the incident shows Allen suddenly emerging from a doorway and rushing toward a security checkpoint equipped with a magnetometer. About a dozen federal officers appeared caught off guard, and only one had his weapon drawn by the time Allen reached them.
Video shows Allen running across a scanner and pointing a long gun at an officer, who then fires five shots, according to prosecutors. However, it’s unclear from the video when Allen’s weapon fired.
The video comes as questions remain about how a Secret Service officer was injured during the confrontation. Prosecutors earlier said the officer was shot while wearing a bulletproof vest, but have not confirmed whether Allen fired the weapon.
High-profile Washington events disrupted
The incident occurred Saturday night at the Washington Hilton hotel as journalists, government officials and other celebrities gathered for the annual dinner.
Allen was injured during the confrontation but was not shot. Authorities said the attack was stopped before the gunmen penetrated the secure grounds.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran defended the security arrangements, saying the response was swift and effective. “The site is set up perfectly,” Curran said.
He added that the suspect was intercepted within seconds at the perimeter of the multi-layered security facility. The distance between the checkpoint and the stage where Trump is seated is about 355 feet, with additional barriers and armed officers in between.
Who is Cole Thomas Allen
Allen, 31, is from Torrance, California. He worked as a part-time tutor while also developing video games as a hobbyist.
Allen appeared briefly in federal court Thursday and agreed to remain in custody pending trial. He did not enter a plea.
Allen was indicted earlier this week and faces charges including attempted assassination of the president and firearms offenses, including discharging a firearm during a violent crime. If convicted of the most serious charges, he could face life in prison.
In court documents, prosecutors said Allen took a photo of himself minutes before the incident while carrying an ammunition pouch, shoulder holster and a knife. Investigators also cited a message in which he called himself a “friendly federal assassin” and hinted at dissatisfaction with Trump administration policies.
