Suspect in Correspondents’ dinner shooting to appear in court

The man accused of opening fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while President Donald Trump was in attendance on Saturday is expected to appear in federal court in D.C. for the first time on Monday.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California, faces two charges: assaulting a federal officer and using a firearm in a crime of violence. Additional charges are expected as investigators’ work continues.

It was unclear if Allen had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. 

Ten minutes before the shooting, Allen sent a long message to his family characterizing himself as a “friendly federal assassin,” investigators said. He described his targets as “administration officials” and alluded to grievances over a range of Trump administration actions.

His family said they alerted police when they saw his writings. They said Allen had a tendency to make radical statements and often referred to a plan to do something.

The guns Allen had were legally purchased a few years ago.

FBI Director Kash Patel said he and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will share additional details at a news conference later Monday.

The suspect in a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner may have been a guest at the hotel the event was being held at. News4’s Mark Segraves and Dominique Moody reports.