“Let me be clear: violence is not the answer to political differences and discourse,” asserted Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente in a timely statement posted to the office’s social media pages regarding the active shooter apprehended at the Washington Hilton Hotel on April 25, where President Donald Trump was attending the annual White House Correspondence Dinner.
“It has no place in our democracy, regardless of ideology, affiliation, or grievance.”
Active shooter at White House Correspondence Dinner
President Trump had taken his seat on the dais in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel as the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner was about to begin. The President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other administration officials had entered the ballroom at approximately 8:15 p.m.
The room has been described as “jampacked” with over 3000 members of the press, elected officials, and guests.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., just 15 minutes later, the sound of “a series of loud bangs rippled through the ballroom.”
The President thought at first it was a waiter dropping a serving tray
“It was either a tray or a bullet. I was hoping it was a tray,” Trump later said. “but it wasn’t.”
One floor above the ballroom where the white-tie annual event was taking place, the suspect, now identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, CA, who had previously checked in as a guest at the hotel, rushed past a security checkpoint, causing him to be chased by security officials and secret service. “5 to 8 shots” were exchanged, While no one was seriously injured in the incident, one secret service agent was hit in his bullet proof vest; he has since been released from the hospital.
When the sound of the shots fired on the floor above echoed in the ballroom below, security agents “quickly whisked away” the President, Melania Trump, Vance and other elected and administration officials to safety.
The suspect was quickly tackled and taken into custody before reaching a flight of stairs the led to the floor where the ballroom was located and the event had just commenced. According to FBI Director Kash Patel shortly after the incident, a long gun and shell casings were found at the scene. The suspect was later reported by Washington D.C. Police to have been in possession of a “shotgun, a hand gun, and multiple knives.”
Motive for the apparent planned attack
The investigation is still ongoing and no clear motive has been established for why Allen embarked on the cross-country train trip to the nation’s capitol with the annual event, widely publicized to be attended by President Trump for the first time. But, the following letter, as published by The New York Post, has been confirmed by USA TODAY to have been written by Allen:
“On to why I did any of this: I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
Allen has been confirmed to be registered to vote in California as “no party preference.”
According to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, Allen will be charged with two counts including Using a Firearm During a Crime of Violence and Assault on a Federal Officer Using a Dangerous Weapon and will be arraigned on Mon., April 27.
Other New York State leaders respond
Governor of New York Kathy Hochul expressed being “thankful for the swift response by law enforcement and the Secret Service,” adding that she was “praying for those in attendance.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer echoed the governor’s sentiments, posting on X to say, “I’m grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and am praying everyone remains safe.”
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillabrand took to Facebook to express her relief that no one was seriously injured, her gratitude for immediate action of law enforcement, and to say that “political violence has no place in our democracy.”
Elise Stefanik, who continues to represent New York’s 21st district, including the City of Rome, also noted on Facebook that she is “Praying for all the attendees at the WHCD in Washington,” and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their “protection of the President” and everyone at the event.
U.S. Congressman John Mannion, who represents New York’s 22nd district, which includes the City of Utica, took to Facebook to note that “It is especially tragic that an event celebrating the First Amendment became the scene of gun violence.”
Mannion joined in widespread gratitude to law enforcement officers and condemnation of political violence in all forms.
“Our differences as Americans must be resolved peacefully through debate and at the ballot box,” Mannion stated. “never through fear or violence.”
Picente calls for “unity, not division” in aftermath of violence in DC
“We are a nation built on dialog, debate, and the peaceful exchange of ideas,” Picente goes on to state, “not fear or force.”
Picente goes on to implore people to respond to the recent political violence, not by taking sides, but to gather on common ground.
“Moments like this call for unity, not division,” said Picente in his remarks. “We must recommit ourselves – at every level of government and in every community – to lowering the temperature of our discourse and respecting one another as Americans.”
Picente sent his thoughts to those who were in harms way on Saturday night, expressed his gratitude for the courage and swift intervention of law enforcement, and relief that the situation “did not end in tragedy.”
“Oneida County,” said Picente on its behalf, “stands firmly against violence in all its forms, and will continue to support efforts that promote safety, understanding, and the fundamental values that bind us together.”
Information from USA Today was used in this article.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Picente calls for unity after correspondence dinner shooting
Reporting by Cara Dolan Berry, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
