Video shows K9 trail suspect gunman moments before WHCD attack
Video shows a police K9 chasing the alleged gunman, Cole Allen, at the Washington Hilton moments before the shooting outside a correspondents’ dinner.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said there is “no doubt” that the bullet that struck a Secret Service agent during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting came from Cole Thomas Allen’s gun.
“We can prove that the pellets from the defendant’s Mossberg pump-action shotgun became entangled with the fibers of the Secret Service agent’s vest,” Pirro said in a May 3 interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
USA TODAY previously reported that evidence collected so far indicates that the only Secret Service agent who actually fired a gun at Allen was the one who was injured while trying to thwart what prosecutors say was an assassination attempt against President Donald Trump. The investigator, who has not been identified, fired five shots, but did not hit the suspect.
Initial court filings did not specifically claim that Mr. Allen shot the agent, but Mr. Trump and administration officials have maintained in public comments that Mr. Allen did.
Mark Lesko, a former US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, told the BBC on May 1: “This is interesting and noteworthy because it shows that the government does not yet have conclusive evidence that the suspect shot the officer.”
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in an April 30 interview on Fox News’ “The Will Caine Show” that all evidence indicates the agent was shot at “point-blank range” by the suspect.
Allen is currently charged with assassination and firearms charges, but Pirro said in an interview on “State of the Union” that the Justice Department will present the case to a grand jury on May 8, which could bring further charges.
Suspect’s lawyer seeks exemption from suicide protocol
Mr. Allen’s lawyers are asking that he be removed from the “suicide prevention program” at the Washington, D.C., prison where he is being held.
The emergency motion, filed May 2 in federal court in Washington, D.C., says a prison nurse recommended Allen be placed on “suicide watch” on April 28, even though the Department of Corrections intake team did not indicate he was at risk of suicide.
Allen’s lawyers were told on April 28 that he would be “placed in regular solitary confinement by Thursday or Friday of that week,” according to the documents. On April 29, Allen was re-evaluated and recommended for a “suicide prevention” protocol, even though “there were no suicidal factors or signs,” according to the motion.
According to the filing, “suicide prevention” protocols prohibit inmates from meeting or having contact with anyone other than members of their legal team, and inmates are only allowed to leave their cells for legal visits and escorted showers.
“These conditions serve no legitimate purpose and are excessive restrictions on Mr. Allen’s freedom that deprive him of his dignity while he is incarcerated,” the motion reads. Mr. Allen’s attorney further argued that these circumstances precluded Mr. Allen from participating in the defense.
A hearing on Allen’s bond conditions is scheduled for May 4 at 12:00 PM ET, court records show. USA TODAY has reached out to Allen’s attorney for further comment.
Contributor: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
