Officer shot at White House Correspondents' Dinner not hit by friendly fire: Report

The bullet that hit a US Secret Service officer during Saturday’s shooting outside the ballroom hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was not fired by another officer, CBS News reported Wednesday, citing law enforcement sources.

Investigators from the Justice Department, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have concluded so far that the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, discharged his shotgun.

Earlier, a source said six shots were fired when the suspect rushed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton -- one shot from him and five from the Secret Service officer who was struck while wearing a bulletproof vest.

Other sources said the round that hit the agent likely struck a cellphone kept in a pocket of his vest, preventing serious injury.

Officials said Allen, from Torrance, California, fell during the incident and was taken into custody at the scene without being injured.

He has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, firing a weapon during a violent crime, committing a violent offense, and transporting a firearm across state lines with the intent to carry out a felony.

He appeared in federal court for the first time on Monday but did not enter a plea.