Shocking Selfie of Alleged Trump Attack Suspect Before Shooting Incident Shows Armed Hotel Room Setup

The man accused of opening fire during the White House Correspondents' dinner clicked selfies with weapons strapped to his body just minutes before the shooting. The prosecution submitted the images in a court filing as it seeks to have the accused, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, detained pending trial.

Allen, an engineer and tutor from Torrance, California, was arrested after rushing past a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were rushed to safety as gunfire rang out outside the hotel’s ballroom.

The shooting occurred on April 25 at 8:36 p.m. ET. Just over half an hour earlier, at 8:03 p.m. ET, Allen had taken pictures of himself in his hotel room. The accused was seen wearing black attire with a red tie. He was armed with a sheathed knife, a shoulder holster, wire cutters, pliers, and a leather bag that appeared to contain ammunition.

The bag was recovered from Allen after the shooting. The prosecution also stated that the accused was found in possession of various weapons. “The defendant was in possession of a Mossberg 12-gauge pump-action shotgun with one spent cartridge in the barrel and eight unfired cartridges in the magazine tube,” reads the court document.

"An additional six unfired cartridges were attached with Velcro to the shotgun in a detachable ammunition carrier, and the defendant possessed another ten unfired cartridges in a small leather bag,” the filing further states. According to prosecutors, Secret Service agents also seized a .38 caliber pistol and two additional handgun magazines from Allen.

Investigators said the attack was premeditated. Allen reportedly left his Torrance home on April 21 and traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago by train before heading to Washington, D.C. Shortly before the shooting, he allegedly sent a manifesto to his family members, stating that he was going to target administrative officials.

“On to why I did any of this: I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a p—-----, r—--, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he wrote in an email, adding, “I don't expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it.”

Allen is facing charges of attempting to assassinate President Trump, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony.

Following the shooting, Trump described Allen as a ‘sick person’ and a ‘lone wolf’ and emphasized the need for his increased protection. “Today, we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before. We’re not going to let anybody take over our society,” the president said.

If convicted, Allen could face life imprisonment for attempting to assassinate the president. Additionally, transporting a firearm between states and discharging a firearm each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.