Federal investigators have confirmed that a Secret Service agent was wounded by pellets fired from the weapon of a man who tried to attack the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with plans to assassinate President Donald Trump.
District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro revealed Sunday that forensic analysis proved the agent was struck by gunfire from Cole Tomas Allen’s shotgun during the April 25 incident at a Washington hotel. Previously, Pirro had only stated there was no indication of friendly fire hitting the officer.
“We now can establish that a pellet that came from the buckshot from the defendant’s Mossberg pump-action shotgun was intertwined with the fiber of the vest of the Secret Service officer,” Pirro explained during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It is definitively his bullet.”
Allen continues to be held in custody awaiting trial, while the wounded agent recovered from injuries. Allen sustained wounds during the confrontation but was not shot.
Earlier this week, Pirro released surveillance footage on social media that captured the moment when Allen allegedly rushed through security carrying firearms and knives, attempting to reach the ballroom filled with media members, government officials and other attendees. Uncertainty had surrounded which weapon fired the shot that injured the officer as Allen charged toward the event.
Defense attorneys for Allen did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.
The 31-year-old California resident from Torrance faces charges of attempted presidential assassination along with two additional weapons violations, including firing a gun during a violent crime. If found guilty on the assassination charge alone, Allen could receive a life sentence.
Court records show Allen worked part-time as a tutor for a test preparation business and developed video games as a hobby.
