The U.S. Justice Department has added a new charge of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon against the individual accused of attempting to harm President Donald Trump during the White House correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton last month. This additional charge, part of a new four-count indictment issued by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., accuses the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, of shooting at a U.S. Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint.
In addition to the new assault charge, the indictment includes three other counts that Allen had previously faced: attempted assassination, discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, and illegal transportation of a firearm and ammunition across state lines. Prosecutors claim that Allen, a 31-year-old from California, was armed with a shotgun and a pistol when he attempted to assassinate Trump and other U.S. officials on April 25 by breaching security.
There was initial confusion about whether Allen shot the Secret Service agent as he ran towards the ballroom where Trump and senior administration members were present with around 2,500 guests. Although Trump officials initially reported that Allen had fired at the agent, stating that the agent’s ballistic vest prevented serious injury, the original charges against Allen did not mention the shooting. However, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro released surveillance video showing Allen firing at the agent, who then returned fire, with a pellet from Allen’s shotgun found tangled in the agent’s vest fibers.
The four-page indictment accuses Allen of using a deadly weapon to forcibly assault and interfere with the Secret Service agent while he was on duty. Law enforcement subdued Allen before he could reach the ballroom, and no one else was harmed in the incident.