Authorities have confirmed that the projectiles from the firearm of the individual accused of attempting to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with intentions to harm President Donald Trump hit a Secret Service agent, as stated by the federal prosecutor leading the investigation.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, revealed that there was no indication of friendly fire causing the agent’s injury during the incident at a Washington hotel on April 25. Pirro further elaborated on Sunday that a pellet originating from Cole Tomas Allen’s Mossberg pump-action shotgun had penetrated the officer’s bullet-resistant vest.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Pirro stated, “We now have evidence that a pellet from the defendant’s shotgun was embedded in the fiber of the Secret Service officer’s vest. It unequivocally came from his weapon.”
The Secret Service officer survived the attack. Allen, currently in custody awaiting trial, sustained injuries during the altercation but was not shot.
A newly released video depicting the incident at the correspondents’ dinner was shared by Pirro, showcasing the moment when an individual armed with firearms and knives tried to breach the media event. Uncertainty had surrounded the origin of the bullet that struck the officer as the suspect made his way through security towards the crowded ballroom of journalists and officials.
Attempts to reach Allen’s legal representatives on Sunday were unsuccessful.
Allen faces charges of attempted presidential assassination and two additional firearm-related offenses, including discharging a weapon during a violent act. If found guilty of the assassination charge alone, he could potentially receive a life sentence.
Hailing from Torrance, Calif., Allen, 31, previously worked part-time as a tutor for a test prep organization and pursues amateur video game development.