US charges Cole Tomas Allen with attempted Presidential assassination at White House dinner
Synopsis
A gunman who allegedly travelled from California to Washington with a shotgun and a pistol, booked a hotel weeks in advance, and sent a manifesto outlining targets was stopped just outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner — and is now charged with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States.
Key Takeaways
Cole Tomas Allen was charged on 28 April with three federal counts, including attempted assassination of the President.
Allen allegedly carried a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38 calibre pistol to the Washington Hilton on 25 April at approximately 8:40 p.m.
A US Secret Service officer was shot in the chest but survived due to a ballistic vest.
Allen reportedly sent a manifesto before the attack outlining targets and intent, prioritising administration officials
US authorities on 28 April charged Cole Tomas Allen with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, following a shooting outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C. Officials said a swift law enforcement response prevented what they described as a
Point of View
Reportedly armed with a manifesto and multiple weapons, was able to travel across state lines, check into a hotel adjacent to a high-security event, and reach a security checkpoint before being stopped. The fact that a Secret Service officer had to take a bullet — even one stopped by a vest — raises hard questions about perimeter security protocols at events hosting the nation's top officials. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's warning about rising political violence is not rhetorical; it reflects a documented pattern of escalating threat levels that law enforcement agencies have flagged repeatedly since 2020. The investigation's coast-to-coast scope also signals this may not be an isolated grievance.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cole Tomas Allen and what is he charged with?
Cole Tomas Allen is the suspect charged on 28 April with three federal counts: attempted assassination of the President, interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges carry penalties of up to life imprisonment.
What happened at the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting?
On 25 April at approximately 8:40 p.m., Allen allegedly ran through a security magnetometer at the Washington Hilton carrying a long gun, after which a gunshot was heard. A Secret Service officer was shot in the chest but survived due to a ballistic vest; Allen was subsequently arrested after being shot at and falling to the ground with minor injuries.
Did the gunman have a plan ahead of the attack?
According to a federal affidavit, Allen travelled from California to Washington by train, booked the Washington Hilton weeks in advance, and reportedly sent a manifesto before the attack outlining his targets and intent. Investigators said the incident was the result of deliberate preparation, not an accident.
Was President Trump or any other official harmed?
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the President and all protectees and participants at the dinner were safe. The only reported injury was to a Secret Service officer, who was shot in the chest but survived due to a ballistic vest.
How wide is the investigation into the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting?
FBI Director Kash Patel described a nationwide, coast-to-coast investigation, with agents dispatched to California and Connecticut and evidence rushed to FBI laboratories. Authorities cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing.
