New Terrorism Charge Filed Against Alleged Shooter at White House Correspondents' Dinner: Cole Tomas Allen Faces Life in Prison
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on November 13 that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was charged in a five-count superseding indictment unsealed that day in U.S. District Court in Washington, District of Columbia, adding a terrorism offense in connection with the April 25, 2026, shooting during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia announced the indictment.
The superseding indictment adds one count of act of terrorism while armed, for the attempted first-degree murder of the President of the United States, in violation of the D.C. criminal code. Allen previously was charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump, assaulting an officer or employee of the United States with a deadly weapon, transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The Justice Department said the maximum penalty Allen faces is life imprisonment. An indictment is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to the indictment, the 2026 dinner took place on April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton, and President Trump was present. Shortly after 8:30 p.m., Allen approached a U.S. Secret Service (USSS) security screening checkpoint on the Terrace Level of the hotel, sprinted through one of the magnetometers and ran toward the stairs leading to the ballroom where the president was located.
As he ran, Allen fired a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, hitting a USSS officer once in the chest. The officer drew his service weapon and fired five times at Allen. Allen fell to the ground, was restrained by law enforcement and was placed under arrest. The Justice Department said Allen suffered a minor injury to his knee but was not shot.
At the time of his arrest, Allen was in possession of the shotgun with one spent cartridge in the barrel. He also possessed a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber pistol, dozens of rounds of unspent 12-gauge shotgun ammunition and .38 caliber ammunition, two knives, four daggers, multiple sheaths, multiple holsters, needle nose pliers, and wire cutters.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Ballantine, Charles R. Jones, and Adam P. Barry of the National Security Section for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. The case number is 26cr98.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部总部大楼。美国司法部官方图库照片，公共领域。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters. Photo from the U.S. Department of Justice, public domain.
