Recently released surveillance footage by the Department of Justice vividly illustrates how Cole Allen, a 31-year-old, managed to bypass security measures during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, nearly reaching the dining room where President Trump was present. The confrontation lasted a mere seven seconds before Allen was subdued.
The incident took place on April 25, shortly after 8:30 p.m., at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C., during the 105th Annual Correspondents' Dinner, attended by Trump and about 2,600 guests.
According to footage shared by Federal District Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, Allen descended from his tenth-floor room via an internal staircase to the hotel's terrace level, one floor above the ballroom.
He proceeded down a lengthy corridor and entered an elevator bank, out of the camera's view, where he removed a jacket concealing a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Moments later, a K-9 unit briefly appeared at the double doors Allen had just passed through, paused, and left without raising the alarm.
Allen burst through those doors seconds later, turned left, and sprinted past a magnetometer that Secret Service agents were in the process of dismantling. Shots were fired two seconds later.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran explained that an agent "returned fire while being shot at point-blank in the chest with a shotgun, managing to fire five times while falling." The agent was struck by pellets in his ballistic vest, resulting in some bruising.
Allen stumbled over a magnetometer box, fell to the ground, and was handcuffed. No one sustained serious injuries. Authorities found, in addition to the shotgun, a handgun, several knives, and what appeared to be a tactical vest in his possession, according to court documents.
Curran emphasized that Allen was neutralized in the outermost perimeter: "You're talking about nearly 355 feet from the magnetometer to the podium. That's almost 120 yards. It's a considerable distance to cover."
The footage also reveals Allen reconnoitered the hotel the day before, walking through hallways, entering the gym, and conversing with an employee.
The accused had booked a three-night stay at the Washington Hilton to gain access as a guest without an invitation to the dinner, traveling by train from California to avoid airport security checks.
About ten minutes before the attack, Allen sent his family a manifesto, approximately 1,000 words long, identifying Trump administration officials as targets in order of rank.
Trump commented wryly on the attacker to the press: "They caught the NFL runner. He was like a football player. He was a fast guy. But he was stopped."
On April 30, a judge ordered Allen to be held without bail, facing three federal charges filed by the Department of Justice: attempted assassination of the president, interstate transport of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharging a weapon during a crime of violence.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 11, when the grand jury could expand the charges against Allen, as announced by Prosecutor Pirro.
Key Questions About the Washington Hilton Attack
How did Cole Allen manage to bypass the security measures?
Cole Allen bypassed security by descending from his hotel room via an internal staircase, removing a jacket that concealed a shotgun, and sprinting past a partially dismantled magnetometer.
What weapons were found in Cole Allen's possession?
Authorities discovered a shotgun, a handgun, several knives, and what appeared to be a tactical vest in Cole Allen's possession during the incident.
What charges is Cole Allen facing?
Cole Allen is facing charges of attempted assassination of the president, interstate transport of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharging a weapon during a crime of violence.