Suspect in WHCA Dinner Shooting May Face Assassination Charge

The gunman who attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday night could be charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington before the event.

The suspect rushed toward the ballroom where the dinner was held but was stopped. Officials believe he was targeting top officials of the Trump administration who were at the dinner. Blanche stated in an interview with CNN that the suspect could be charged with attempting to assassinate the U.S. president, saying “absolutely” when asked about potential charges.

President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and JD Vance were on the high table at the head of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel during the event. As shots rang out, journalists and guests ducked under tables while law enforcement officers with rifles blocked lines of sight to the president as he was rushed from the room. A federal agent was shot but survived due to wearing a bulletproof vest.

The suspect is not actively cooperating with authorities and will face multiple charges in federal court on Monday, including assault of a federal officer and discharging a firearm. Investigators have examined the gunman’s electronic devices and writings, preliminarily believing he intended to target administration members at the dinner.

“It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president,” Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”