DOJ Releases Selfie of Suspected Shooter Before WHCD Incident
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has shared a mirror selfie of Cole Tomas Allen, the suspected shooter, taken about 30 minutes before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) on Saturday.
During the event, Allen, who was a registered guest at the Washington Hilton, allegedly armed himself and managed to breach a security checkpoint. Thankfully, he was apprehended before he could reach the ballroom where the event was occurring, despite shots being fired.
A recent detention memo, referenced by ABC-affiliated KTXS 12 and filed by the DOJ, features this selfie. In the image, Allen is dressed in black pants and shirt, with a red tie, and he seems to be smirking.
Interestingly, the photograph reveals Allen equipped with various weapons and tactical gear, including:
- a small bag that resembles one filled with ammunition later retrieved from him
- a shoulder holster
- a sheathed knife
- pliers and wire cutters
The memo also describes weapons recovered at the time of his arrest, which included a “12-gauge pump-action shotgun” and a “.38 caliber pistol.”
Facing charges for the attempted assassination of the president, Allen could potentially receive a life sentence. The court filing seeks his pretrial detention without bond, citing the serious nature of the charges.
“The defendant’s actions were premeditated, violent, and calculated to cause death,” the memo highlights. “There is no condition or combination of conditions that will ensure the safety of others or the community should the defendant be released,” it continues.
