South Bay Man Charged In Trump Assassination Attempt Took Selfies With Weapons Beforehand: DOJ

Cole Tomas Allen, the Torrance man charged with trying to kill Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner last Saturday, took a selfie of himself in his hotel room just minutes beforehand wearing an ammunition bag, a shoulder holster and a sheathed knife, authorities said Wednesday.

In a new court filing, a submitted photo showed Allen in black pants, a black shirt and a red tie as he snapped the image in his room at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and hundreds of journalists were meeting for a gala Saturday night, authorities say.

The 31-year-old was captured when he tried to race past security barricades near the hotel's ballroom, prompting an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents tasked with safeguarding the event, investigators say.

Allen legally purchased a 12-gauge shotgun at the Turner's Outdoorsman retail location in Torrance, as well as a semiautomatic pistol at a firearms dealer in Lawndale several weeks before the attack, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

It's not clear if those weapons are the same ones that he brought with him to Washington, DC when he carried out his attack.

A hearing is set for Thursday regarding whether Allen is to remain in custody.

The government has said that preset emails with an "Apology and Explanation" attachment were sent at about 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, around the time of the attack.

"He intended to kill and fired his shotgun while trying to breach security and attack his target. Put simply, the defendant poses an uncommonly serious danger to the community if released pending trial. The defendant's lack of criminal history and other personal circumstances do not alter this conclusion," Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones wrote.

Trump, a Republican, was uninjured. A Secret Service officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot in the vest and survived.

Allen appeared in court on Monday and was charged with the attempted assassination of the president as authorities suggested an attack that disrupted one of Washington's glitziest events had been planned for at least several weeks. He did not speak at length during the quick court appearance, as is customary. One of his lawyers, Tezira Abe, noted he had no criminal record and said he "is presumed innocent."

Trump was rushed off the stage by his security team Saturday night and appeared at the White House two hours later, still in his tuxedo.

"They seem to think he was a lone wolf," the President said of Allen.

An FBI affidavit filed Monday revealed other details about the planning behind the assault, with authorities alleging that Allen traveled by train cross-country from Los Angeles, checking into the Washington Hilton a day before the dinner.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.