Prosecutors Seek Pretrial Detention for Allen
On Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office formally charged the suspect involved in last Saturday’s shooting during the Correspondents’ Dinner at the White House—an incident that forced the evacuation of President Donald Trump—with three counts, including the attempted assassination of the President.
Cole Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from California, has also been charged with the interstate transport of firearms and the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, according to the U.S. television network CBS News.
The detainee—who made his first court appearance since Saturday’s shooting on Monday before Judge Matthew Sharbaugh at the federal courthouse in Washington—was heavily armed when he was discovered by security forces.
Specifically, the suspect was carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and three knives, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine stated; consequently, she requested his “pretrial detention.”
Allen remains in custody pending another court appearance this Thursday, at which time the court will determine whether he qualifies for any form of pretrial release. In any event, a preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on May 11.
