A man accused of opening fire during a high-profile event in Washington, DC, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the US President, along with two firearms-related offences. The accused, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was produced before a federal court where he entered no plea. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.
Allen is being represented by two assistant public defenders. One of his lawyers, Tezira Abe, stated that he has no prior criminal record and "is presumed innocent at this time", according to the Associated Press.
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What happened at the dinner
The incident took place at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner held at the Washington Hilton. US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, along with senior officials and journalists, were present when the situation unfolded.
Authorities said Allen managed to bypass security measures and fired shots while moving towards the venue. Law enforcement intervened quickly and arrested him at the scene. The president and vice president were escorted to safety without injury.
Profile of the accused
Allen is described as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist based in the Los Angeles area. He studied at the California Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2017. He later completed a Master's degree in Computer Science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. He has also worked as an indie game developer and part-time teacher.
Manifesto sent before shooting
Investigators say Allen sent an anti-Trump manifesto to family members about 10 minutes before the shooting. Signed as "Cole 'coldForce' 'Friendly Federal Assassin' Allen," the document outlined his motives and referenced the event's security.
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"Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial. I'm not a schoolkid blown up, or a child starved, or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behaviour; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes," he wrote, according to The New York Post.
He added, "I am no longer willing to permit a paedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes."
