WASHINGTON, D.C. May 1, 2026 – U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has released new surveillance footage showing suspect Cole Tomas Allen casing the Washington Hilton the day before his April 25, 2026, assassination attempt on President Donald J. Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The approximately five-minute video, already submitted as evidence in U.S. District Court, captures two key segments:
- On April 24, 2026, Allen is seen walking through the hotel’s fitness center and adjacent hallways, appearing to scout the premises.
- On the evening of the attack (April 25), footage from the event’s security checkpoint shows Allen approaching a metal detector area armed with a shotgun. He fires at close range, striking a U.S. Secret Service officer. Pirro stated explicitly: “There is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly fire.”
Allen, 31, a Caltech graduate from Torrance, California, and part-time tutor/engineer, is charged with the attempted assassination of the President. Authorities say he was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. He faces life in prison if convicted. The joint investigation by Pirro’s office and the FBI remains active.
Public reaction to the released video has focused heavily on apparent security lapses. Multiple replies to Pirro’s post highlight a K9 handler whose dog repeatedly alerted toward a side door where Allen later emerged armed. The handler is seen redirecting the dog and turning away moments before Allen burst through with a rifle. Other commenters noted slow response times from nearby agents and questioned why metal detectors were reportedly being dismantled while the event was still underway.
One widely shared clip from the video shows Secret Service agents reacting to the threat, with at least one officer drawing and firing at Allen as he advanced.
Pirro posted the video on X late Thursday, writing: “Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner… My office along with the @FBI will continue this extensive investigation to bring Cole Allen to justice.”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, traditionally held at the Washington Hilton, was underway when the attack occurred near the main security perimeter. The President was not injured. The incident is under continued review as federal authorities examine how Allen was able to approach the checkpoint.
Life News Agency will continue to follow developments in this case as the investigation proceeds.
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