Washington Press Dinner Shooting: Suspect Selfies and Video Released

US prosecutors have released images of Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of opening fire during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, 2026, showing him preparing for the attack in a hotel room.

The images were included in a memorandum filed by the US government on April 29, 2026, as part of a motion to keep the 31-year-old California resident detained pending trial. The photographs, which include selfies taken by Allen, depict the suspect posing in front of a mirror before he allegedly charged past a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C.

Evidence of Premeditation

According to the court filing, Allen took the photos of himself at approximately 8:03 p.m. ET on April 25. In the images, he is seen wearing black slacks, a black dress shirt, and a red necktie tucked into his pants.

Prosecutors stated that the images show Allen with several items strapped to his body, including a shoulder holster, a sheathed knife, pliers, and wire cutters. The filing also notes that Allen is pictured with a small leather bag, which prosecutors say is consistent with an ammunition-filled bag later recovered from his person.

The government alleges that in the half hour following these photographs, Allen used his cell phone to check several websites for live coverage of the dinner and to confirm the attendance of the president.

Details of the Attack

During the incident on April 25, Allen is accused of carrying a pump-action shotgun, a semi-automatic handgun, and three knives. As gunfire rang out in the hotel, Secret Service agents and other security personnel rushed President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, cabinet members, and other White House officials from the ballroom.

One Secret Service agent was shot during the attack but did not sustain serious wounds.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

Allen has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including one count of attempted assassination of the president, discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, and the interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition with the intent to commit a felony.

In the filing opposing bail for the suspect, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones described the evidence against Allen as overwhelming.

Had the defendant achieved his intended outcome, he would have brought about one of the darkest days in American history.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones

If convicted on the charges, Allen faces a potential sentence of life in prison.