WASHINGTON — Chilling security footage released by President Trump shows the wild moment that a gunman attempted to rush past security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The sicko, whom sources have identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, Calif., was shown in the blurry footage sprinting past multiple security officers, as agents drew their guns and pursued him.
The entrance to the Washington Hilton, which hosts the feted dinner, was subject to a loose check, where officials ensured attendees had tickets for the marquee dinner or a party beforehand.
To enter the hotel’s ballroom, where the main course takes place, attendees must go through magnetometer screenings and security checks.
There was no security screening beyond the screening in the immediate perimeter before entering the ballroom, which has been the case at past White House Correspondents’ Dinners for decades.
The suspect, who is believed to have been a guest at the hotel, according to Interim DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll, was shown trying to blow past that beefed-up security perimeter.
Ultimately, agents on the scene were able to pin the suspect down after multiple shots rang out. The 31-year-old was found with two firearms and multiple knives. One Secret Service officer suffered a minor injury after getting shot in their bulletproof vest.
Authorities believe Allen acted alone.
Records indicate that Allen was a teacher and video game developer, having earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Trump also posted images of a shirtless Allen pinned to the ground after responding officers detained him.
Allen is facing two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime and one count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, according to US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro.
He is set to be arraigned on April 27.
The president and top cabinet officials who attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner were frantically rushed out of the ballroom after shots were fired.
Over 2,500 journalists and other guests had gathered in the ballroom for the dinner.
Trump declared Saturday that there would be another White House Correspondents’ Dinner in about 30 days and teased plans to take it easier on the media than he originally intended.
Technically, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) puts on the dinner to raise money for scholarships. Trump had been in contact with WHCA President Weijia Jiang.
The president also made it clear that he was not keen on leaving the Washington Hilton because he did not want to let the sickos win.
“I fought like hell to stay,” Trump told reporters afterward. His security team had rushed him out.
“But they, it was protocol. They said, ‘Please, sir,’ because they didn’t know … there was a lot of action going on, and they didn’t know.”
