White House Shooter Charged With Attempted Assassination

PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - A 21-year-old man suspected of shooting at the White House last week was charged on Thursday with attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama.

Oscar Ortega-Hernandez appeared in a Pittsburgh court after he was arrested on Wednesday at a hotel near Indiana, Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

No one was hurt in the shooting on Friday night, and President Barack Obama and wife Michelle were out of town at the time.

The Secret Service said one bullet broke a White House window but was stopped by protective ballistic glass, and the other round struck the exterior of the building.

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Two cars were seen racing away from the scene. One vehicle was found abandoned nearby with a semi-automatic rifle on board, authorities said.

Ortega-Hernandez was charged with attempted assassination of the president, Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kitchen said at the court hearing.

Ortega-Hernandez appeared in court wearing a white jumpsuit. Authorities said they will be moving him to custody in Washington.

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