Grand jury indicts WHCA shooter on four counts

A federal grand jury has indicted Cole Allen, 31, on four charges related to the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. The indictment includes charges of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, transporting a firearm across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Allen allegedly fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent, who was struck in the protective vest but not seriously injured. The agent, identified in court filings as V.G., was guarding the event where Trump and other officials were present. Allen, who traveled from California to Washington, D.C., was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives when he attempted to breach a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton. Prosecutors allege Allen’s manifesto, published by the New York Post, accused Trump of being a "pedophile, rapist, and traitor" and listed administration officials as targets. Allen has not yet entered a plea and remains detained. His legal team agreed to his continued detention, and his case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee. A federal magistrate judge criticized Allen’s treatment in jail, noting he was placed on suicide watch in a padded cell with constant lighting and subjected to repeated strip searches. The judge apologized for the conditions and downgraded his status to suicide precautions.