Cole Tomas Allen Charged With Trying to Kill Trump

The man who allegedly tried to storm the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday made his first court appearance on Monday. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, the Washington Post reports. "He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump," said federal prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine. A judge granted prosecutors' request to keep Allen in custody ahead of another hearing on Thursday, reports the Guardian.

The Torrance, California, resident, who wore a blue jail uniform, did not enter a plea, the AP reports. He has been assigned court-appointed attorneys. Allen "has no prior arrests or convictions," attorney Tezira Abe, said, per the Post. Allen, a tutor and amateur video game developer, was taken into custody after the Saturday attack at the Washington Hilton. Allen allegedly shot a Secret Service in the chest as he tried to storm the ballroom, armed with guns and knives, but the officer was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover. Before the attack, Allen allegedly sent family members a message that listed "administration officials" as targets.