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White House shooter charged with trying to kill Obama | White House shooter charged with trying to kill Obama |
(40 minutes later) | |
A US man has been formally charged with attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama, after he fired shots at the White House in November. | A US man has been formally charged with attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama, after he fired shots at the White House in November. |
Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, 21, from the US state of Idaho, faces 17 charges that also include damaging the White House and assault with a dangerous weapon. | Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, 21, from the US state of Idaho, faces 17 charges that also include damaging the White House and assault with a dangerous weapon. |
He was deemed mentally stable to stand trial and has been held in custody since his arrest. | He was deemed mentally stable to stand trial and has been held in custody since his arrest. |
The president and first lady were in California when the shots were fired. | The president and first lady were in California when the shots were fired. |
Mr Ortega-Hernandez was arrested in Pennsylvania days after gunfire was heard at the White House on 11 November 2012. | |
His defence lawyer has told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Ortega-Hernandez intends to plead not guilty to all the charges. | |
He could face a potential sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. | |
Personal mission | |
In a preliminary hearing in December, a judge ordered that he be held without bail. | In a preliminary hearing in December, a judge ordered that he be held without bail. |
Law enforcement officials said Mr Ortega-Hernandez appeared to believe he had been sent on a personal mission from God to attack the White House. | Law enforcement officials said Mr Ortega-Hernandez appeared to believe he had been sent on a personal mission from God to attack the White House. |
They had no reason to suspect he was affiliated with a radical organisation, they added. | They had no reason to suspect he was affiliated with a radical organisation, they added. |
Federal prosecutors have asked that Mr Ortega-Hernandez undergo further psychiatric tests to ensure he can be held legally liable. | |
After the gunshots were fired, officials found two bullets on the south side of the executive mansion, the part of the building where the president's bedroom is located. | |
One bullet broke a "historic" outside pane of glass but was stopped by a protective inner panel of ballistic glass. The second bullet hit the exterior of the building. | |
Mr Ortega-Hernandez's family had reported him missing on 31 October, days before the incident. It is thought that he was living in the Washington DC area. | |
He has previously been arrested in the US states of Texas, Utah and Idaho. He was charged formally before a grand jury in Washington DC. |