The man accused of opening fire during a high-profile media gala attended by President Donald Trump on Saturday is scheduled for arraignment in a federal court this Monday, according to U.S. prosecutors.
The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was apprehended at the scene following a chaotic exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents. Despite the shootout, officials confirmed that Allen was not struck by bullets and was taken into custody unharmed.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Piro announced that Allen will appear before a U.S. District Judge to face multiple felony charges, including the use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
The security breach occurred during a gala typically attended by the Washington press corps and high-ranking officials. The incident sent shockwaves through the capital, yet President Trump remained defiant in his first public remarks following the attempt.
Speaking from the White House, the President emphasized that the attack would not influence his administration’s current military objectives.
“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran,” Trump told reporters during a Saturday evening briefing. While the President initially noted that “you never know” if the shooting was politically motivated, he later suggested that preliminary information points toward a “lone wolf” scenario rather than a state-sponsored act of terror.
“I don’t know if [the shooting] had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know,” he added.
The shooting comes at a moment of heightened international tension. Earlier on Saturday, the President took the significant step of canceling his envoys’ planned trip to Pakistan, where they were slated to hold peace talks with Iranian representatives. Trump cited a lack of progress and dissatisfaction with Tehran’s negotiating stance after nearly two months of active conflict.
Federal investigators are currently working to determine Allen’s motive and whether he had any accomplices. Security around the President and the capital has been significantly bolstered ahead of Monday’s court appearance.
