Newly released prosecutorial footage reveals four crucial seconds as a gunman emerged from a hotel and stormed a security checkpoint while President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The CCTV video captures a security officer firing shots at the fast-moving assailant, who was carrying a long-barreled weapon. However, it remains unclear whether the gunman’s weapon was discharged during this initial confrontation.
Notably, the video footage does not depict the moment investigators describe as when the suspected attacker fell and was subsequently apprehended at the Washington Hilton Hotel last Saturday, April 25.
The man, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with attempted assassination of President Trump during the high-profile White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. He has not yet entered a plea to these serious charges.
The U.S. Department of Justice stated that the video also shows Allen “scouting the location” of the hotel the day before the dinner, with prosecutors indicating the defendant was staying there as a guest. Further footage shows Allen walking through hotel corridors the night before the event, even making a stop at the hotel’s fitness center, suggesting premeditation.
Allen is accused of being armed with a semi-automatic pistol, a pump-action shotgun, and three knives as he ran across a terrace area, one floor above the underground ballroom where the prestigious event was underway. Following the sound of gunshots, President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members, and other White House officials were swiftly evacuated from the venue, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The latest video, uploaded to the X platform on Thursday by Washington D.C. prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, appears to be a higher-quality version of footage previously shared by Trump shortly after the incident occurred last Saturday. This new footage offers a clearer perspective on the chaotic scene.
The enhanced recording vividly shows nearly a dozen security personnel gathered around a security checkpoint within the hotel corridor. A man in a dark, long coat is seen walking down the corridor before disappearing behind a door. Moments later, the gunman—having shed his coat—reappears and charges through a metal detector. According to written statements filed by prosecutors, the coat was used to conceal a 12-gauge shotgun.
The footage also distinctly shows an officer drawing and firing a handgun toward the suspect, a critical moment in the confrontation. Officials previously stated that a Secret Service agent was shot during the attack but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. President Trump confirmed on Thursday, April 30, that the agent survived thanks to the bulletproof vest they were wearing, highlighting the protective measures in place.
Ballistics experts are currently investigating whether the Secret Service agent was struck by a bullet fired by the suspect or by another law enforcement officer at the scene. However, prosecutor Pirro asserted in her Thursday X post: “There is no evidence that the shooting was the result of friendly fire.” This statement, however, contrasts with some earlier reports and legal filings.
Intriguingly, a prosecutor’s memo filed on Wednesday, April 29—which sought the judge’s order to detain Allen until trial—made no mention of any officer being shot during the incident. This memo stated that as the suspect rushed through the checkpoint, a Secret Service agent “observed the defendant firing a shotgun toward stairs leading to the ballroom.” This particular account differs from previous descriptions in charging documents, which suggested an officer was struck by a single shot to their bulletproof vest, allegedly fired by the suspect.
Meanwhile, Allen’s defense legal team has publicly questioned the prosecutors’ claims that their client discharged a weapon, setting the stage for a contentious legal battle.
On Thursday, Secret Service Director Sean Curran provided a definitive statement to Fox News, asserting that the suspect fired upon a Secret Service agent at extremely close range. “All the evidence I’ve seen suggests the suspect shot our officer at point-blank range with a shotgun,” Director Curran told the television station. “He was shot from zero distance in the chest with a shotgun, but our officer heroically returned fire and was able to fire five return shots.”
Curran further elaborated on the suspect’s apprehension, stating, “It appears the suspect hit his knee on one of the magnetometer boxes while engaging with our officer, then began to fall to the ground. That’s the moment when officers and agents were able to subdue him and pile on top of him until the situation was under control.”
Allen faces several additional charges, including interstate transport of firearms for a felony and discharging a firearm during a violent crime—each carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. These charges underscore the severity of the alleged incident and the potential legal consequences for Cole Tomas Allen.
- The enigma behind Cole Tomas Allen’s motive for the shooting at the Trump-attended event.
- Trump and several officials were allegedly primary targets of the shooter, says the U.S. Attorney General.
- Trump escapes shooting at White House dinner – What we know so far.
Summary
Newly released CCTV footage reveals Cole Tomas Allen, 31, emerging from a hotel and charging a security checkpoint while President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. An officer is seen firing at Allen, who was armed with a shotgun and other weapons, as he stormed through a metal detector. Following the sound of gunshots, President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other officials were swiftly evacuated from the venue.
Prosecutors indicate video shows Allen “scouting the location” the day before, suggesting premeditation for the attack. While initial accounts differed, Secret Service Director Sean Curran definitively stated the suspect fired upon an agent at point-blank range, who then returned fire. Allen faces charges including attempted assassination, interstate transport of firearms, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.