The suspect in the shooting incident involving President Donald Trump at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, is scheduled to face formal charges today, Monday, April 27, 2026.
Court Appearance & Charges
Allen is expected to be arraigned in a federal district court in Washington, D.C.. According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, he faces several initial charges, with more potentially to follow as the investigation continues:
Assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Attempting to kill a federal officer.
Discharging a firearm.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche noted that the suspect could also eventually be charged with attempted assassination of the president.
The shooting occurred at approximately 8:36 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton.
Suspect Details: Allen is a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, with no prior criminal record. He is a Caltech graduate and former teacher who was staying as a guest at the hotel.
Weapons Recovered: Authorities found a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and multiple knives.
Injuries: One Secret Service agent was struck in the chest but was saved by his bulletproof vest. Allen sustained a minor knee injury during his apprehension.
Motive: Preliminary findings and writings linked to the suspect suggest he was specifically targeting Trump administration officials, describing himself in documents as a “Friendly Federal Assassin”.
