The federal agent was injured during an alleged assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington.
The federal agent that was injured during an alleged assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was not shot via friendly fire, President Donald Trump said Thursday.
“It wasn’t us,” Trump told reporters in response to a question about the possibility of friendly fire.
He added that the Secret Service agent didn’t want to go to the hospital after being shot, but he was sent there anyway for medical care.
“It is still a hit,” Trump said. “The vest totally protected him. Still, a lot power behind that shot. That’s like being hit by Mike Tyson.”
Trump was asked if he considered wearing a bulletproof vest.
“I don’t know if I can handle looking 20 pounds heavier,” Trump said to laughter.
Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, also posted video of the attack on X.
“There is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly fire,” Pirro said on X.
The posted video shows the gunman charging through a security checkpoint where he appeared to point a weapon at security as he rushed past them.
“Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Pirro said on X.
U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran told Fox News on Thursday the suspect allegedly shot an officer point-blank with a shotgun, and the officer returned fire while being shot. Curran said Allen was captured within four seconds after passing the checkpoint.
Curran said the injured officer shot his weapon five times and was in the process of falling down when he was returning gunfire.
Allen was wearing a tactical vest as he broke through the security point, and that was taken off by the security guards once he was taken down. The suspect was on a separate floor from where Trump was, Curran said.
By Tom Gantert
