A California man accused of storming a security checkpoint and opening fire near a high-profile Washington gala attended by Donald Trump has been charged with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, in what prosecutors describe as a planned attack on senior government officials.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, made a brief appearance in federal court in Washington on Monday, facing three felony charges: attempted assassination of the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Allen did not enter a plea and remains in custody ahead of a bail hearing scheduled for later this week.
Authorities allege Allen was armed with a pump-action shotgun, a semiautomatic pistol and three knives when he rushed through a security checkpoint at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, held at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. Prosecutors say he exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers before being subdued in a chaotic confrontation near the venue entrance. One agent was struck in a bulletproof vest but was not seriously injured. No guests were killed.
“Make no mistake, this was an attempted assassination of the president of the United States,” District of Columbia prosecutor Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference following the hearing, alleging the accused intended to target “as many of the high-ranking cabinet officials as he could.”
Investigators say Allen never reached the ballroom where President Trump and hundreds of guests were attending the black-tie dinner. Secret Service agents swiftly evacuated the president after gunshots rang out, sending guests ducking for cover. Video from the scene appeared to show the alleged attacker sprinting past an initial security line before he was stopped by officers.
According to reports, investigators are examining a message allegedly sent by Allen to family members shortly before the incident, in which he reportedly outlined plans to target administration officials “from highest-ranking to lowest.” Authorities say the document will form a key part of the case as they investigate motive and planning.
Speaking in interviews after the incident, President Trump said he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for a dropped tray before realising the seriousness of the situation. “I wasn’t worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” he said, later adding that he resisted evacuation at first because he wanted to understand what was happening.
The attack has renewed scrutiny over presidential security arrangements, particularly at large public events. It is the third alleged attempt on Trump’s life in two years, following a shooting at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler and a separate armed security incident at a Florida golf course months later.
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