Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at an April 27 press conference that the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooting was only stopped after he stumbled and fell while rushing a security checkpoint, and investigators have not yet determined whether the injured Secret Service agent was struck by the suspect or by another agent.
As Zeale News previously reported, 31-year-old Cole Allen — who has been charged with attempting to assassinate the President, along with two other criminal counts — sprinted past a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton April 25 while armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
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During the DOJ briefing, Blanche said that while a Secret Service agent fired five shots at Allen, none struck him. Instead, Allen tripped and fell to the ground and was arrested a short distance from the main ballroom where President Donald Trump and more than 2,000 guests were gathered.
Allen “was not shot, but fell to the ground and was promptly arrested,” Blanche said.
One Secret Service officer was struck in the chest during the exchange but was protected by a ballistic vest and did not sustain serious injuries. Blanche said forensic and ballistic analysis is ongoing to determine whose bullet struck the officer.
“We want to get that right, so we’re still looking at that,” Blanche said in response to a reporter’s question about whether the suspect fired shots and whose bullet hit the agent.
He added that “all the evidence is being examined very carefully and expeditiously, and we’ll know more soon.”
Blanche also praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement personnel, saying they “did not fail” but “did exactly what they are trained to do” and prevented what officials have described as an attempted assassination of the President.