Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, shared the video on social media on Thursday, April 30. The near six-minute clip shows the alleged gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, walking back and forth along a corridor the day before the attack at the press dinner.
Security checkpoint footage captures federal officers dismantling magnetometers on the day of the incident. The alleged gunman bursts through a doorway and launches into a sprint towards them. The gunman rapidly closes in on the officers before the majority appear to register his presence.
Just one officer visible in the footage appears to have drawn his weapon before the gunman passed; Pirro confirmed he is the officer who was shot and returned fire.
Prosecutors had previously stated the agent was struck in the bullet-resistant vest during the struggle, but had not confirmed it was Allen who fired the shot. Pirro stated there is no evidence to suggest the officer was hit by friendly fire.
Allen, 31, from California, sustained injuries but was not shot during the incident at the Washington Hilton, which threw the event — packed with journalists and administration officials, including high-ranking leaders — into chaos.
Allen earlier on Thursday consented to remain in custody while awaiting trial. He did not enter a plea during his brief appearance in federal court.
Court documents reveal that Allen photographed himself in his hotel room just minutes before the incident, dressed with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster and a sheathed knife.
Allen reportedly described himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and made reference to a series of grievances concerning various Trump administration policies.
He was charged on Monday with the attempted assassination of the president and two additional firearms counts, including discharging a weapon during a crime of violence.
He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assassination count alone.