Man Charged With Attempting to Assassinate President Trump at White House Correspondents' Dinner
National News - A California man is now facing federal charges after authorities say he opened fire at a security checkpoint during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2026.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was arraigned in U.S. District Court on charges that include attempt to assassinate the President of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The dinner was held at the Washington Hilton hotel and was attended by President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, the Vice President, and multiple Cabinet Secretaries.
President Trump had publicly announced his plans to attend the event more than seven weeks earlier, on March 2, 2026, posting about it on his Truth Social account.
According to court documents, Allen made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton on April 6, 2026, booking a room from April 24 to April 26. He traveled by train from near Los Angeles to Chicago, then boarded a second train that arrived in Washington, D.C. on April 24 at around 1:00 p.m. He checked into the hotel that same afternoon.
The following evening, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Allen approached a security checkpoint on the Terrace Level of the hotel. He ran through a magnetometer while holding a long gun, and a shot was fired. A U.S. Secret Service officer was struck once in the chest. That officer was wearing a ballistic vest at the time.
The officer drew his service weapon and fired multiple times at Allen. Allen fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries but was not shot. He was then taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, Allen was found to be carrying a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber pistol.
Records show that Allen had purchased the shotgun from a California firearms dealer on August 17, 2025, and the pistol from another California dealer on October 6, 2023.
Investigators confirmed through serial numbers that both weapons recovered at the scene were the same ones Allen had legally purchased in California.
Allen was treated for minor injuries at Howard University Hospital and then released into law enforcement custody. After being advised of his Miranda rights, he invoked his right to remain silent.
Shortly before the shooting, Allen sent a scheduled email to family members and a former employer. The email read: "I wish I could have said anything earlier, but doing so would have made none of this possible. My sincerest apologies for all the trouble I've caused. (scheduled send)-Cole." He signed it using the name "Cole 'coldForce' 'Friendly Federal Assassin' Allen."
Attached to that email was a document titled "Apology and Explanation." In it, Allen listed which people at the event he considered targets and which he did not. He wrote that he was acting because he was "no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes." The document also described his planned use of buckshot rather than slugs, saying it would cause "less penetration through walls" in an effort to, in his words, minimize casualties.
Federal officials were direct in their response to the charges. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, "Cole Allen now faces the full weight of federal justice. This alleged assassin was stopped because of the courage and professionalism of law enforcement officers who responded without hesitation by doing their jobs."
FBI Director Kash Patel added, "The evidence is abundantly clear: Cole Tomas Allen traveled to Washington D.C. for the purpose of assassinating President Trump and targeting members of the Trump administration. Thanks to the heroic actions of our brave law enforcement partners who acted quickly and professionally, Allen did not succeed - and now, he will be held fully accountable."
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia stated, "Cole Allen traveled across the country with deadly weapons and a plan to assassinate the President of the United States. The swift and courageous response of the Secret Service officers prevented unimaginable tragedy. There is no room in this city for political violence."
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Ballentine, Charles Jones, and Adam Barry.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
