A 31 year old man has been charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump during a high profile event in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors said Cole Tomas Allen rushed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday while carrying weapons. Trump was attending the event at the time.
According to court filings, Allen ran through a security scanner with a long gun. A gunshot followed, and a United States Secret Service officer was hit in the chest but survived due to a protective vest. The officer returned fire, and Allen was taken into custody with minor injuries.
Authorities said Allen had a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives when he was arrested. He now faces multiple charges, including attempted assassination and firearms offenses, which could lead to life in prison if convicted.
Investigators said Allen traveled from California to Washington and had planned the attack in advance. He also sent messages before the incident explaining his actions and targeting government officials.
Officials, including Kash Patel, said the case is under active investigation, with agents reviewing digital evidence and conducting interviews.
The incident has raised concerns about security at major events attended by top government leaders, as authorities review what went wrong and how to prevent similar threats in the future.
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