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Officials weigh charges in White House shooting

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Officials in the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington say they will decide by Thursday whether to file a federal or a local charge against the suspect who fired a weapon near the White House.

As of late afternoon Wednesday no charges had been filed, but authorities were planning to lodge a detainee so that the suspect will be taken directly to a court when he is ready to leave the hospital.

If authorities conclude there is enough evidence to support a charge of using a deadly weapon in an assault on a federal officer, they may go to U.S. District Court to file a charge of assault on a federal officer which carries a penalty of 10 years in prison.

A Justice Department official said use of a deadly weapon includes pointing a firearm at law officers even if the gun is not fired. The official said the federal statute prohibits assaulting, opposing, resisting, interfering, impeding or intimidating law officers. An assault on an officer that does not include use of a deadly weapon carries a one year sentence.

If officials determine they do not have enough evidence to sustain the federal charge, they could seek to prosecute the gunman on a District of Columbia charge of carrying a pistol without a license, which carries a penalty of five years.

A Justice Department official in the U.S. Attorney's office said if prosecutors decide to press both the federal and local charge, both charges could be filed and prosecuted in the federal court.

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