Suspect in D.C. press dinner shooting indicted for attempt to assassinate Trump
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks as FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting Assistant Director for the Criminal Investigative Division at the FBI Darren Cox listen at a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 27, 2026 in Washington, D.C., about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — The alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on four federal charges, including attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump and assaulting an officer or employee of the United States with a deadly weapon.
The three-page indictment alleges 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of California, “knowingly and by means and use of a deadly and dangerous weapon” forcibly assaulted, intimidated or interfered with an unidentified U.S. Secret Service agent who was hit with one bullet in his protective vest while working a security checkpoint outside the annual dinner. The agent was uninjured.
The indictment does not specify whether Allen fired the shot that hit the agent.
Allen was also indicted on transporting a firearm over state lines with intent to commit a felony, and using, brandishing or discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Shotgun, pistol and wire cutters
The indictment specifies Allen transported a 12-gauge pump action shotgun with 45 rounds of ammunition, and a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition.
Government prosecutors in a court filing prior to the indictment alleged Allen also had on him “two knives, four daggers, multiple sheaths, multiple holsters, needle nose pliers, (and) wire cutters.”
The Department of Justice initially charged Allen on three of the grand jury indictment counts, with the exception of assaulting a federal officer or employee.
Allen is scheduled to be arraigned in federal district court Monday in Washington, D.C.
He faces up to life in prison if convicted of attempting to kill the president.
Black-tie dinner
Allen allegedly rushed a security checkpoint one level above the Washington Hilton ballroom on April 25 where Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet officials were among thousands of journalists, government officials and celebrities attending the black-tie event that dates back a century.
Shortly before he ran through a magnetometer, with a long gun in hand, at 8:40 p.m., Allen sent an email to friends and family explaining he intended to target “administration officials … prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.”
Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Cabinet members all safely evacuated the ballroom.
The Secret Service agent, whose vest protected him from gunfire, is referred to in court filings as V.G.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters April 27 that a ballistics investigation had not yet been completed, and would not answer whether Allen fired the bullet that hit the agent.
V.G. fired five rounds from his service weapon in Allen’s direction, but did not hit the suspect who fell to the ground and sustained minor injuries, according to a signed affidavit from law enforcement filed in court April 27.
Trump publicly shared photos on his social media platform Truth Social the day following the dinner of a shirtless and handcuffed Allen face down on the hotel carpet Saturday night.