DOJ seeks pretrial detention of shooting suspect Cole Allen, releases new photos

The government is asking the court to detain White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen pending trial, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed a memorandum making the request and included a new photo of Allen with his weapons that officials say he took shortly before the attack Saturday night. 

“At approximately 8:03 p.m., while back inside his hotel room, the defendant used his cellphone to take a photograph of himself in the mirror,” the memorandum states, pointing out items including a shoulder holster and a sheathed knife in the photo. 

About half an hour later, authorities say, the suspect sprinted past the magnetometers and fired a shotgun blast before falling down and being restrained by officers.

Allen was charged Monday in federal court with three counts including attempting to assassinate the president. The other two charges involved the use and transport of firearms.

The memorandum noted that Allen, if convicted, faces a possible maximum life sentence in prison.

“The defendant’s actions were premeditated, violent, and calculated to cause death,” the memorandum said. “Considering the relevant statutory factors, there is no condition or combination of conditions that will reasonably assure the safety of other people or the community if the defendant were released from custody. The Court should detain the defendant pending trial.”