White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting: Prosecutors Reveal Suspect Took Selfies at Hotel Before Act
Prosecutors today revealed that Cole Allen, accused of attempting to assassinate former US President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, took selfies in his hotel room before the act. He was found with weapons and had sent a manifesto to relatives.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 10:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 10:31 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 19:48 (9h 17m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, 29th, comprehensive foreign report) US prosecutors today stated that Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former US President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, had taken selfies in his hotel room before the act.
Agence France-Presse and Associated Press reported that prosecutors said Allen, 31, began his actions shortly after 8:30 PM on April 25th, descending from his room at the Washington Hilton Hotel and attempting to break into the underground banquet hall, where Trump and several high-ranking officials were attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
Allen was subdued and arrested after struggling with security personnel. Gunshots were heard at the scene, but no one was killed. Reportedly, a Secret Service agent wearing a bulletproof vest was hit by a bullet in the vest.
According to prosecutors, minutes before the incident, Allen browsed websites reporting on Trump's movements, prepared his weapons, and took selfies with his phone in front of a mirror in his room.
The photos showed him wearing black clothes, a red tie, carrying a knife, a pistol in a shoulder holster, and a bag that police believe contained ammunition.
As he left his room, he had pre-scheduled several emails to be sent to friends and family, containing a manifesto explaining his actions. It is alleged that his targets were members of the Trump administration, listed in order of rank from highest to lowest. He stated that he hoped not to kill Secret Service agents, other law enforcement officers, or hotel guests.
Prosecutors submitted documents to the Washington Federal Court requesting denial of bail, which revealed details of Allen's alleged preparations for a so-called "unimaginable malice" attack.
The document stated: "The court should detain the defendant pending trial. The political nature of the defendant's crime further highlights the necessity of detention, as his motive for the crime will persist as long as he maintains his opposition to the government."
Prosecutors stated that Allen traveled by train from California to Washington D.C., carrying a shotgun, a pistol, and multiple knives. During his journey, he frequently recorded his admiration for different landscapes. Upon arriving at the hotel, he expressed surprise at the lax security measures, writing that he "walked in with multiple weapons, and no one realized I might pose a threat." The court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. (Editor: Lu Ying-tzu) 1150430
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(Central News Agency, Washington, 29th, comprehensive foreign report) US prosecutors today stated that Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former US President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, had taken selfies in his hotel room before the act.
Agence France-Presse and Associated Press reported that prosecutors said Allen, 31, began his actions shortly after 8:30 PM on April 25th, descending from his room at the Washington Hilton Hotel and attempting to break into the underground banquet hall, where Trump and several high-ranking officials were attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
Allen was subdued and arrested after struggling with security personnel. Gunshots were heard at the scene, but no one was killed. Reportedly, a Secret Service agent wearing a bulletproof vest was hit by a bullet in the vest.
According to prosecutors, minutes before the incident, Allen browsed websites reporting on Trump's movements, prepared his weapons, and took selfies with his phone in front of a mirror in his room.
The photos showed him wearing black clothes, a red tie, carrying a knife, a pistol in a shoulder holster, and a bag that police believe contained ammunition.
As he left his room, he had pre-scheduled several emails to be sent to friends and family, containing a manifesto explaining his actions. It is alleged that his targets were members of the Trump administration, listed in order of rank from highest to lowest. He stated that he hoped not to kill Secret Service agents, other law enforcement officers, or hotel guests.
Prosecutors submitted documents to the Washington Federal Court requesting denial of bail, which revealed details of Allen's alleged preparations for a so-called "unimaginable malice" attack.
The document stated: "The court should detain the defendant pending trial. The political nature of the defendant's crime further highlights the necessity of detention, as his motive for the crime will persist as long as he maintains his opposition to the government."
Prosecutors stated that Allen traveled by train from California to Washington D.C., carrying a shotgun, a pistol, and multiple knives. During his journey, he frequently recorded his admiration for different landscapes. Upon arriving at the hotel, he expressed surprise at the lax security measures, writing that he "walked in with multiple weapons, and no one realized I might pose a threat." The court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. (Editor: Lu Ying-tzu) 1150430
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.