Suspect In Trump Gala Shooting To Be Arraigned Monday — Prosecutor

A suspect arrested in connection with the shooting at a high-profile Washington media gala attended by United States President Donald Trump will be arraigned in court on Monday, federal prosecutors have said.

The incident occurred on Saturday during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, where gunfire near a security checkpoint triggered panic and forced the evacuation of top officials, journalists and guests.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, confirmed that the suspect, who reportedly exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents but was not shot, will appear before a US district judge.

According to Pirro, the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California. Washington, is expected to face charges including “using a firearm during a crime of violence” and “assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon,” with additional counts likely as investigations continued.

Authorities said a Secret Service officer was struck during the confrontation but survived after the bullet hit a protective vest.

Trump, who was swiftly evacuated from the venue, later addressed the incident at a White House briefing, insisting it would not affect ongoing US military actions abroad.

“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know,” Trump said.

However, the president earlier struck a more cautious tone, noting that investigators were still examining the motive.

“You never know,” he said, while describing the suspect as a “lone wolf.”

The shooting has raised fresh concerns about security at major public events in the US capital, particularly those involving senior government officials.

In a related development, Trump confirmed he had cancelled a planned trip by US envoys to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, citing dissatisfaction with Tehran’s negotiating stance after nearly two months of conflict.

Investigations into the motive behind the attack remain ongoing.