A federal grand jury has filed a four-count indictment against 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, a Torrance, California resident, in connection with the April 25 shooting incident during the 105th Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C., as announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
The latest charge—assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon—adds to the three federal charges already filed on April 28 by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, with FBI Director Kash Patel offering his support.
The indictment's charges include: attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump; assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon; interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony; and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
Sentences for these charges range from mandatory minimums of 10 years to life imprisonment.
This fourth charge was initially withdrawn during the April 27 hearing because it was unclear whether the shot that hit the Secret Service agent came from Allen's weapon.
On April 30, Pirro released a nearly six-minute video that clarified the matter: the footage, shown in slow motion, depicts Allen aiming his 12-gauge shotgun directly at an agent and firing first.
"The video clearly shows Allen firing first," and "there's no evidence of friendly fire" in the wounded agent, Pirro stated. Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed that "Allen shot the agent at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun; the agent managed to return fire despite being struck in the chest."
The Secret Service agent survived thanks to his bulletproof vest, which stopped the bullet. His cell phone was also hit by the shot. Despite the impact, the agent fired back five times.
The shooting took place around 8:40 p.m. on April 25, when Allen burst through the security checkpoint on the terrace level of the Washington Hilton, one floor above the main ballroom. He was armed with a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, a .38 semi-automatic pistol, at least three knives, and additional ammunition.
In the main ballroom were approximately 2,600 attendees, including President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and cabinet members such as Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard. Allen was subdued before he could reach the ballroom.
About 10 minutes before the attack, Allen sent his family a manifesto of roughly 1,000 words, signing it as "Cole 'cold face' 'friendly federal killer' Allen," identifying Trump administration officials as targets prioritized by rank. His brother, living in New London, Connecticut, alerted the police after receiving the text.
FBI Director Kash Patel was unequivocal: "Allen traveled to Washington D.C. with the intent to assassinate President Trump and high-ranking officials of his administration, assaulting federal agents in the process."
Allen, a Caltech graduate in mechanical engineering with a master's degree in computer science, had no prior criminal record. During the April 30 detention hearing, his defense did not argue for his release, and the judge ordered him held without bail. Since his arrest, Allen has been in solitary confinement around the clock.
A new preliminary hearing is set for May 11, 2026.
Key Questions About Cole Thomas Allen's Case
What charges is Cole Thomas Allen facing?
Cole Thomas Allen is charged with attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
How did the authorities confirm Allen's guilt in the shooting?
Authorities confirmed Allen's guilt through video evidence showing him firing a 12-gauge shotgun directly at a Secret Service agent, which dispelled any doubts about the source of the shot.
What was Cole Thomas Allen's background before the incident?
Before the incident, Cole Thomas Allen was a Caltech graduate in mechanical engineering and held a master's degree in computer science. He had no known criminal history.