Suspect Of Shooting At White House Correspondents’ Dinner Admits He Was Targeting Trump Officials: Report

Cole Allen, the suspect in the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, told law enforcement authorities that he planned to target officials in the Trump administration, according to a new report.

Citing two sources familiar with the matter, CBS News detailed that Allen didn’t mention Trump specifically and said “administration officials.”

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Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said in a statement that Allen “underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service and was stopped at first contact.”

He went on to say that the “strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead” and thanked officers involved.

The officer struck by gunfire during the incident was released from the hospital in the early hours of Sunday. President Donald Trump said earlier that the officer was in “very great shape” while addressing press in the White House after the shooting.

“We told him we love him and respect him,” Trump said. “And he’s a very proud guy and he’s very proud of what he does.”

NBC News detailed that Allen does not have a criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement in Washington D.C.

His LinkedIn profile says he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. It also says he got a masters of science in computer science from California State university last year. Allen was working as an independent video game developer and a part-time teacher at a company dedicated to helping high schoolers get into college.

Trump called Allen a “thug” who “attacked our Constitution.” “he’s a sick person, a very sick person, and we don’t want things like this to happen,” he added on Saturday night.

Trump also shared footage of Allen sprinting at the Hilton Hotel as agents reacted to the shooting. He then shared an image of the suspect after being apprehended.