Suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting to Remain in Custody
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
The accused shooter who allegedly opened fire during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner last weekend will remain in custody. Public defenders for Cole Tomas Allen had pushed for his release, but during a hearing on Thursday, they stated he 'accepted detention for now.' Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and engineer from California, was charged on Monday with attempting to assassinate the president and other related offenses after allegedly firing shots outside the crowded ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where President Donald Trump and other White House officials had gathered with journalists for the annual dinner. Allen was apprehended after a U.S. Secret Service agent fired multiple shots at him. A criminal complaint notes that Allen fell to the ground and sustained minor injuries but was not struck by gunfire. In a court filing on Wednesday supporting Allen's pretrial release, his public defenders argued that he has no criminal record and was 'stably employed as a tutor' in California. The attorneys stated that Allen 'has the support of family and friends' who would ensure he complied with release conditions. 'As previously noted, Mr. Allen’s background and characteristics favor his release in this case,' the public defenders wrote, describing him as a 'beloved and respected teacher and colleague who has consistently demonstrated kindness, empathy, and compassion, and never violence.'