White House correspondents' dinner shooter could face more charges
發佈日期: 2026-04-26 21:26
TVB News
President Donald Trump called the gunman "a very sick person", and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed the suspect is facing two charges, stressing there will be more charges to come.
President Donald Trump addressed the media at the White House, after he, the First Lady and senior US leaders were evacuated from the annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night. The suspect is called Cole Tomas Allen, and Trump mentioned he was from California.
Trump said, "The man has been captured. They go into his apartment, I guess he lives in California, and he's a sick person, a very sick person. And we don't want things like this to happen."
Trump said the suspect was stopped by the Secret Service but not before one officer who was wearing a bulletproof vest was shot.
"It was in one way very beautiful, a very beautiful thing, to see a man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service. One officer was shot but saved by the fact that he was wearing a obviously a very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great. He's in great shape."
The president says he wanted to continue the dinner until law enforcement told him otherwise, and insisted it will be hosted again under safer circumstances.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro says the suspect is being charged preliminarily with two counts related to using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon. More charges are expected.
Pirro said: "Right now, the defendant is being charged with two counts, 924C, using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime under 111, which is assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Now, as you all know, there was an individual, a uniformed Secret Service officer who was shot. And fortunately, he is doing all right and he will be fine."
"But it is clear based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could. And thankfully, because of the checkpoint right outside the ballroom, where thousands of people were situated to hear the President of the United States, because that checkpoint worked, there was no one who was injured, when it was clear where this defendant was going."
Pirro says the suspect would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court.
