The accused gunman who attempted to storm the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with guns and knives traveled across the country before the event and is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.
Suspect's Travel and Intentions
Blanche also stated that officials believe the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then onward to Washington, where he checked in as a guest at the hotel hosting one of Washington's most glamorous events on Saturday night.
Investigators have not publicly named the suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him to The Associated Press as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.
Details of the Incident
Law enforcement officials who examined the gunman's electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members attending the dinner. He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, President Donald Trump being rushed off the stage, and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.
The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Blanche said. He is not cooperating and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.
“It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president,” Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
