A photo obtained by CNN shows one of the weapons the suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen had on him at the Washington Hilton on Saturday.
Shotgun recovered from suspect at White House Correspondents’ Dinner hotel
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- Authorities say suspect Cole Tomas Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.
- Preliminary findings suggest limited exchange of gunfire before Secret Service returned fire.
A photo obtained by CNN from a source shows one of the weapons allegedly carried by suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen during an incident at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, according to officials and people familiar with the investigation.
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Authorities are continuing to piece together the sequence of events, but early findings suggest a brief exchange of gunfire before the situation was brought under control by security forces.
Early sequence of gunfire under review
Based on a preliminary investigation, including witness statements, officials currently believe Allen likely fired one to two shots before being engaged by a Secret Service officer. The officer then fired approximately three to four rounds at the suspect, according to a source familiar with the inquiry.
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Authorities emphasized that the timeline remains under review as investigators analyze forensic evidence, surveillance footage, and additional witness accounts from the scene.
Multiple weapons recovered
In a press briefing Saturday evening, officials said Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives at the time of the incident. The presence of multiple weapons has raised further questions about intent and preparation, which investigators are now examining.
