U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has announced that a Secret Service agent was definitively struck by a shotgun blast during the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at last weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Forensic analysis confirmed that a pellet from a buckshot round was found intertwined with the fibers of the agent’s protective vest, linking the injury directly to the Mossberg pump-action shotgun carried by the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen
New details regarding Allen’s movements prior to the attack reveal that he used a side room to remove a long, dark coat used to conceal the weapon.
Although a bomb-detection K-9 was observed near the doorway Allen entered, experts noted the dog was trained to find high-order explosives rather than ammunition, explaining why the firearm was not detected.
While a CNN analysis of audio from the scene indicates six shots were fired in total, this aligns with law enforcement statements that Allen fired once while a responding officer fired five times.
Pirro also emphasized that while Allen’s manifesto did not explicitly name the president, his digital actions and physical movements established him as the “very clear” target.
Investigators found evidence on Allen’s phone of specific queries regarding whether the president had sat down and what time dinner would be served. Pirro further dismissed any potential insanity defense, describing the suspect as “brilliant” and noting he suffered “no psychotic break.”
As a grand jury investigation continues, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that initial charges of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence could expand.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for this Friday. Pirro also confirmed she has no intention of recusing herself from the case, despite being present at the event as a member of the Trump administration.