Federal investigators say the suspect in the White House correspondents’ dinner attack photographed himself and planned the assault in advance.
The US Justice Department released new details on Wednesday about suspect Cole Allen, who is accused of attempting to breach security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
According to court filings, Allen allegedly took a selfie in his hotel room while armed with multiple weapons shortly before the incident at the Washington Hilton.
Investigators said he also kept written notes assessing hotel security and searched online for information about the dinner and the president’s schedule before the attack.
Authorities allege Allen fired a shotgun toward stairs leading to the ballroom. A Secret Service officer was present to return fire. He was subdued and arrested at the scene.
A later search of his hotel room reportedly uncovered knives, ammunition, duct tape and other equipment. Additional weapons-related items were also recovered from his home in California.
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Allen is due back in court on Thursday as prosecutors continue to build their case.
The new filing suggests the alleged attack involved significant planning before the night of the incident.