Newly released video footage from the U.S. Department of Justice shows the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner appearing to open fire on a Secret Service officer, as prosecutors build their case around what they describe as an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
The footage, shared by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, allegedly captures 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen sprinting through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel armed with a shotgun. Authorities say the video also shows Allen surveying the venue a day before the incident, suggesting premeditation.
According to prosecutors, the shooting unfolded Saturday evening as Allen ran through a metal detector on the hotel’s terrace level, one floor above where the high-profile dinner was taking place. A Secret Service officer confronted the suspect and discharged his weapon, firing multiple rounds that did not strike Allen. The officer, who was wearing a ballistic vest, was shot during the encounter but later released from the hospital.
Investigators allege that Allen traveled from Los Angeles to Washington with the intent to target members of the Trump administration. Court documents reveal that he carried a manifesto outlining plans to attack officials attending the event, ranking potential targets by position.
Allen now faces multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination of the U.S. president, transportation of firearms with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a weapon during a violent crime. Authorities say he was armed with a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, a .38 caliber pistol, and additional weapons at the time of the attack.
Surveillance footage shows Allen entering restricted areas, moving through the hotel, and eventually rushing past security with a weapon in hand. Moments later, security personnel are seen responding rapidly as the situation escalated.
Following the incident, Allen was taken into custody and has been ordered to remain detained as legal proceedings continue. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11.
Prosecutors maintain that the evidence, including the newly released video, strongly supports their case that the attack was deliberate and targeted, underscoring heightened concerns about security at major political events in the United States.
