WASHINGTON — An armed man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump opened fire while trying to breach a Secret Service security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton during the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, triggering a rapid evacuation of the president and other senior officials.
The April 25 incident unfolded shortly after 8:30 p.m., as Trump, first lady Melania Trump and senior members of his administration were attending the annual gathering. Trump was unharmed and was quickly escorted from the event by Secret Service agents as law enforcement moved to secure the area.
Suspect Rushed Security Checkpoint
Federal prosecutors identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. According to a Justice Department criminal complaint, Allen traveled from California to Washington by train and checked into the Washington Hilton on April 24, one day before the dinner. Investigators said he had reserved the hotel room earlier in April.
At approximately 8:40 p.m. on April 25, Allen approached a security screening checkpoint on the hotel’s Terrace Level, which provided access toward the ballroom where the dinner was taking place.
Prosecutors allege that Allen ran through a magnetometer while carrying a long gun. As he moved through the checkpoint, Secret Service personnel heard a gunshot.
A Secret Service officer was struck once in the chest. The officer was wearing a ballistic vest, which absorbed the round. The officer then drew a service weapon and fired multiple shots at Allen, who fell to the ground and was taken into custody. Federal authorities said Allen suffered minor injuries but was not struck by gunfire.
Multiple Weapons Recovered
Authorities said Allen was carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38-caliber pistol when he was arrested.
Federal investigators later traced the weapons through firearm transaction records. According to the Justice Department, Allen purchased the shotgun from a California firearms dealer in August 2025 and the pistol from another California dealer in October 2023. Investigators said the firearms matched those recovered at the Washington Hilton.
The suspect was taken to Howard University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being returned to federal custody. Prosecutors said Allen was advised of his Miranda rights and invoked his right to remain silent.
Federal Attempted-Assassination Case
Allen was initially charged on April 27 with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal grand jury subsequently returned an indictment adding an assault charge involving a federal officer and a deadly weapon.
Investigators also obtained an email Allen sent to family members and a former employer shortly before the shooting. Federal authorities said the message indicated that he was preparing to carry out the actions that followed.
Additional evidence presented by prosecutors included surveillance footage that authorities said showed Allen inside the hotel before the attack. The footage was later described by the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia as showing activity prosecutors believed was part of Allen’s preparation for the assault.
Dinner Canceled After Security Breach
The gunfire immediately transformed the high-profile political and media gathering into a security emergency. Guests were evacuated as Secret Service personnel and other law enforcement officers secured the area.
Trump and other senior officials were escorted away from the ballroom while officers detained the suspect. The Secret Service officer who was shot survived, with the ballistic vest preventing the round from causing more serious injury.
The annual dinner was canceled following the incident. The event, traditionally attended by journalists, administration officials, lawmakers and other prominent figures, had been underway when the security breach occurred.
The FBI and U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case, while federal prosecutors are handling the criminal proceedings. Allen later pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations against him remain subject to the federal judicial process.
The incident has since become the subject of extensive federal investigation as authorities continue examining the suspect’s actions, preparations and stated intentions before the attack.