Recently unveiled video footage from the Justice Department portrays Cole Tomas Allen navigating the corridors of the Washington Hilton in the hours leading up to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The video later captures him approaching a security checkpoint while armed.
Federal prosecutors argue that this video substantiates their narrative of the events, although the legal proceedings are still in their initial stages, and the charges have yet to be proven in court.
The footage depicts the 31-year-old Allen on April 24, walking through various parts of the hotel, including a visit to the gym where he engages in conversation with a woman at the front desk.
In the later part of the video, Allen is seen sprinting toward a security checkpoint on Saturday evening, brandishing a weapon. Security agents are shown reacting swiftly, drawing their weapons as Allen rushes past. At one point, a Secret Service agent is visible firing a shot as Allen runs by.
Just before this confrontation, an officer is seen passing the door through which Allen eventually bursts, with a K-9 unit appearing to sense something amiss moments before Allen makes his dash.
An image of Cole Allen wearing a graduation gown following his master’s degree completion in 2025 accompanies the footage. Alongside this, a dramatic scene unfolds showing a Secret Service agent firing at Allen, suspected in an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026.
The footage follows a separate video released Saturday that appeared to show Allen running through the checkpoint toward a ballroom and shooting a U.S. Secret Service agent.
Prosecutors were prepared to present the video during a detention hearing Thursday to argue that Allen posed a danger to the community, but his defense team agreed to detention.
Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, remains in federal custody after his defense agreed not to contest detention at this stage. He faces federal charges including attempted assassination of the president, firearm transport across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
A Secret Service agent fires at Cole Allen, suspected in the assassination attempt of President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Obtained by The Washington Post)
Federal prosecutors charged him with, among other counts, attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Allen is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on May 11.
U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed Thursday that an agent was shot in the chest while wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to be OK.
Surveillance video released by the Justice Department appears to show suspect Cole Allen rushing a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton with a weapon in hand during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. (Department of Justice)
Curran said Allen shot the agent, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, while charging through security, though a later Justice Department filing did not repeat that allegation. He is expected to be OK.
Curran said the agent returned fire at Allen but missed.
He also pushed back on speculation that the agent may have been struck by friendly fire, saying the wounded agent was the only person besides Allen who discharged a weapon during the incident.
While an initial criminal complaint alleged Allen shot the agent, that claim was not included in a later Justice Department filing.
Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Donald J Trump via Truth Social/Handout via Reuters)
The Justice Department also released new photos of evidence tied to the shooting, including weapons and ammunition Allen allegedly had in his possession.
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