New footage shows alleged would-be Trump assassin storming security checkpoint | US News

Video has been released of the moment prosecutors say a gunman tried to storm the White House correspondents’ association dinner and assassinate Donald Trump.

Washington attorney Jeanine Pirro posted the footage on her X page.

It appears to show suspect Cole Allen, 31, scoping out the venue and charging through a screening checkpoint with a raised firearm as a secret service agent opens fire.

Authorities say the agent – one of around a dozen federal officers at the checkpoint when the gunman emerges from a doorway down the corridor – fired five times after Allen pointed his gun at them.

The agent is the only one who appears to draw their weapon before Allen goes through the screening equipment.

Allen was injured but not shot during Saturday night’s incident, but one agent was shot in a bullet-resistant vest. It was unclear whether they were shot by Allen or an agent, but Ms Pirro said there was no evidence of friendly fire.

Still images of the suspect on the night of the attack – which targeted one of Washington’s highest-profile events of the year – were released earlier this week as part of a court filing by the Department of Justice.

They showed Allen taking selfies with weapons, which prosecutors say included a sheathed knife, shoulder holster and bag filled with ammo.

The photos were taken at around 8.03pm local time, around half an hour before the moment in the footage where Allen rushed through the screening checkpoint.

He’s been charged with one count of attempted assassination of Mr Trump, interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime.

Share

Who is suspected gunman Cole Allen?

Advertisements

Read more from Sky News:
UK terror threat level raised
War comes for Britain’s favourite food

The filing also claims he tracked the president’s and Melania Trump’s movements via websites and live coverage from media companies of the event, held at the Washington Hilton.

The couple and other senior officials were quickly evacuated from the event after several gunshots were heard.

Assistant US attorney Charles Jones wrote in the filing: “Had the defendant achieved his intended outcome, he would have brought about one of the darkest days in American history.”

Allen, a part-time tutor and amateur video game developer from California, will remain in prison while he awaits trial, having not entered a plea during a brief court appearance.