The Justice Department released a photo that prosecutors say shows the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting roughly 30 minutes before he rushed past security at the event. In the image, the man — identified in filings as the defendant — is seen in his hotel room wearing a small leather bag and shoulder holster; prosecutors say a sheath knife, pliers and wire cutters were also visible.
Court filings and agency statements outline a timeline that, according to investigators, shows planning and preparation. Prosecutors say the defendant began searching online about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner about three weeks before the attack. Over the following weeks he repeatedly looked for details about the dinner: who would attend, where the president would be, and when the president was arriving. After those searches, the filings say, he booked a hotel room and arrived in Washington, D.C., checking into the hotel on April 24.
On the night of the event, prosecutors allege, the defendant moved from his hotel to the venue area and then rushed past security toward the ballroom. He was apprehended after falling to the ground; he was arrested at the scene. Authorities say he was taken into custody after the attempt to get down the staircase toward the main ballroom.
There are still unanswered questions about the shots fired during the incident. Officials have said a U.S. Secret Service agent was shot and that agent was not struck by friendly fire. Investigators have not yet publicly confirmed whether the bullet that entered the agent’s vest was fired by the defendant. The Department of Justice and law enforcement sources say a ballistic investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of that bullet and whether the suspect fired intentionally or if a discharge was accidental.
National security and counterterrorism experts note that the defendant’s online searches, hotel booking and travel are the kinds of lawful activity that would not necessarily attract attention on their own; prosecutors say the movement of firearms and the alleged attempt to assassinate the president are what converted otherwise lawful behavior into criminal conduct. Authorities say the photo released by the Justice Department — showing the suspect about half an hour before the breach — is part of evidence they are using to show premeditation and planning.
Investigations are continuing, and officials expect more information from forensic, ballistic and digital-evidence analyses in the days ahead.