U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that new ballistics evidence has confirmed Cole Tomas Allen as the individual who shot a Secret Service agent during an attempted attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last weekend [1]. The evidence revealed that the agent’s protective vest contained a buckshot pellet from the Mossberg pump action shotgun allegedly carried by Allen on the night of the incident [1].
Allen, 31, of California, has been charged by federal prosecutors with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, as well as with the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence [1]. The shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton ballroom, where President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other high-ranking officials were present [1]. This marks the third attempt on President Trump’s life since 2024 [1].
Until Pirro’s statement, it was unclear whose bullet had struck the agent, but she stated, “It is definitively his bullet. He had every intention to kill him and anyone who got in his way on his way to killing the president of the United States” [1]. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues [1].
Allen has been held in custody since the night of the shooting and recently waived his right to challenge his detention [1]. On Sunday, Allen was removed from suicide precautions in jail following an emergency motion from his attorneys, though Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui expressed concerns about Allen’s solitary confinement and overall conditions of confinement [1].
CONCLUSION
The confirmation of Cole Allen as the shooter who wounded a Secret Service agent during an assassination attempt on President Trump represents a significant development in the ongoing investigation. With prosecutors warning of potential additional charges and heightened scrutiny of Allen’s detention conditions, the case continues to draw intense public and political attention.