Cole Allen: WHCA shooting suspect faces attempted assassination charge

WASHINGTON – Cole Tomas Allen, the 31‑year‑old suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, made his first court appearance on Monday as he faces multiple federal charges. 

What we know:

Allen is facing three counts, per FOX: 

• attempt to assassinate the president of the United States, which carries a potential life sentence
• transporting a firearm across state lines, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
• discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years

A search of state and federal court databases showed no indication Allen had ever previously been charged with a crime, according to the Associated Press.

READ MORE: Push for White House ballroom accelerated by Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

President Donald Trump released an image showing the man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Via Truth Social)

Cole Allen manifesto

Dig deeper:

Allen allegedly told law enforcement after his arrest that he intended to target President Donald Trump administration officials, according to information confirmed by Fox News. Minutes before the attack, he sent writings to family members in which he railed against Trump administration policies and referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” a message reviewed by The Associated Press shows.

The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to President Donald Trump without naming him directly and cited grievances over several administration actions, including U.S. strikes on boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Investigators are treating the writings, along with social media posts and interviews with family members, as key evidence of Allen’s mindset and possible motives. 

Authorities also uncovered what one law enforcement official described as numerous anti‑Trump social media posts linked to Allen, who is accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while armed with multiple guns and knives.

RELATED: Cole Allen, accused WHCA gunman, had manifesto targeting Trump, top officials

Secret Service officer injured

As the dinner was underway, authorities said Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton.

Officials said Allen was armed with multiple weapons when he opened fire, striking a Secret Service officer in his ballistic vest. Agents returned fire and tackled Allen, taking him into custody. Both the suspect and the injured officer were taken to a hospital, and the officer is expected to recover.

The incident adds to a growing list of threats involving Trump, including two confirmed assassination attempts and a recent case involving an armed intruder at Mar‑a‑Lago.

Family alerted authorities after receiving writings

Allen’s brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving the writings the suspect sent shortly before the shooting, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, the AP reported.

New London police said they were contacted at 10:49 p.m., about two hours after the shooting, by an individual who wanted to share information related to the incident. The department said it immediately notified federal authorities.

Allen’s sister, who lives in Maryland, told investigators her brother had legally purchased several weapons from a California gun store and kept them at their parents’ home in Torrance without their knowledge, the official said. She described him as prone to making radical statements.

The writings reviewed by the AP totaled more than 1,000 words and read as a rambling, deeply personal message. They opened with a casual greeting before shifting into apologies to family members, co‑workers and strangers he feared could be harmed. The note moved between confession, grievance and farewell, with Allen thanking people in his life while attempting to explain the attack.

Elsewhere, he shifted between political anger, religious justifications and rebuttals to imagined critics. He also mocked what he described as lax security at the Washington Hilton and expressed surprise he was able to enter the hotel armed without detection.

What’s next:

A detention hearing is set for Thursday, April 30 at 11 a.m., followed by a preliminary hearing on May 11 at 1:30 p.m.