New surveillance footage released by federal prosecutors on Thursday provides a chilling look at the speed and intensity of an alleged assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. The video, capturing a chaotic scene at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25, 2026, shows the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, charging through a high-level security checkpoint in just four seconds. The incident occurred while President Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and several cabinet members were attending the White House Correspondents` Association dinner in the basement ballroom.
The CCTV clip, shared by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, depicts a man appearing from a doorway and sprinting toward a metal detector with what investigators identify as a long-barreled weapon. According to the Department of Justice, Allen had been "casing the area" the day before the gala, even checking into the hotel as a guest. Earlier footage shows him walking through corridors and visiting the hotel`s gym, suggesting a pre-planned operation. Prosecutors allege that the suspect was carrying a significant arsenal, including a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a semi-automatic handgun, and three knives.
What followed was a frantic confrontation between Allen and the Secret Service agents stationed on the terrace level, just one floor above the main event. While the video shows an agent returning fire as the suspect sprints through the magnetometer, it remains unclear from the visuals alone if Allen successfully discharged his weapon. However, Secret Service Director Sean Curran provided a more detailed account during a Fox News interview, stating that the suspect fired at an officer at "point-blank range." Curran noted that the officer was struck in his ballistic vest, which likely saved his life, and managed to fire five rounds back at the assailant.
There has been significant debate regarding the origin of the gunfire that struck the officer. Some early reports suggested the possibility of "friendly fire" in the confusion of the hallway, but US Attorney Pirro has firmly stated that there is currently no evidence supporting that theory. Interestingly, a memo filed by prosecutors earlier this week did not explicitly mention an officer being shot, though earlier charging documents alleged the single shot to the ballistic vest. This inconsistency has become a focal point for Allen`s defense team, who are questioning the government`s narrative regarding whether their client actually opened fire.
The suspect was eventually apprehended after he tripped over a magnetometer box while being engaged by law enforcement. The footage does not show the actual arrest, but Director Curran described agents "piling on top of him" to subdue him once he fell. President Trump and other high-ranking officials were unharmed and were quickly evacuated from the ballroom as soon as the shots rang out. Trump later joked on social media about the incident, but the security lapse at such a high-profile event has sparked a major investigation into how an armed individual could get so close to the executive protection zone.
Cole Tomas Allen remains in custody and faces multiple federal charges, including the attempted assassination of a president and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Each of these charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. As the 2026 political season intensifies, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile security landscape surrounding the American presidency. The case will move forward in the DC federal court, with further forensic ballistics reports expected to clarify the details of the exchange.
