The Justice Department released a photograph that prosecutors say shows the defendant about 30 minutes before he allegedly rushed past security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In the image, authorities say, the man is in his hotel room wearing a small leather bag and a shoulder holster; prosecutors say a sheath knife, pliers and wire cutters were visible as well.
Court filings and agency statements outline a timeline investigators say shows planning and preparation. According to prosecutors, the defendant began searching online about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner about three weeks before the incident. In the weeks that followed he repeatedly searched for details on the event: 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 dinner, prosecutors allege, the defendant moved from his hotel toward the venue area and rushed past security toward the ballroom. Authorities say he was apprehended after falling to the ground and was arrested at the scene after an attempt to descend a staircase leading toward the main ballroom.
Questions remain about the shots fired during the incident. Officials have said a U.S. Secret Service agent was shot and that the wound was not caused by friendly fire. Investigators have not 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 underway to determine the origin of that bullet and whether any discharge was intentional or accidental.
National security and counterterrorism experts point out that the defendant’s online searches, hotel booking and travel are activities that, by themselves, would not necessarily draw attention. Prosecutors contend, however, that the movement of firearms and the alleged attempt to injure or kill the president are what transformed otherwise lawful behavior into criminal conduct. The Justice Department says the photo released showing the suspect roughly half an hour before the breach is among the evidence being used to argue premeditation and planning.
Investigations are ongoing. Officials say they expect additional information from forensic, ballistic and digital-evidence analyses in the coming days.