The suspect charged in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting made his initial appearance in federal court Monday, where he was formally advised of the charges filed by prosecutors. Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is accused of entering the Washington Hilton while armed with multiple weapons and attempting to reach the ballroom where President Donald Trump was attending the dinner alongside Cabinet officials and journalists Saturday night.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Allen appeared in court wearing a blue jail uniform and faces charges including attempted assassination of the President of the United States, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and transporting a firearm across state lines, Fox News reported.
Allen spoke softly during his court appearance. As he was led into the courtroom by marshals, he scanned the public gallery, which included over 40 members of the press and general public. He nodded as Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh explained various aspects of the proceedings, NBC News noted.
“He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine told the court. “We are asking the court to preventatively detain Mr. Allen.”
“Cole Allen’s journey of accountability in the criminal justice system starts today,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a press conference Monday afternoon, adding, “There will be additional charges as this investigation continues to unfold.”
“But make no mistake, this was an attempted assassination of the President of the United States, with the defendant making clear what his intent was,” Pirro continued. “And that intent was to bring down as many of the high ranking Cabinet officials as he could. This is the kind of situation that we cannot tolerate.”
Allen booked a three-night stay at the Washington Hilton from Friday through Sunday, according to a newly unsealed probable cause affidavit.
The affidavit states that Allen traveled by train from the Los Angeles area to Chicago last Tuesday, arriving there on Thursday. He then boarded another train that reached Washington on Friday at approximately 1 p.m.
Roughly two hours later, around 3 p.m., he checked into a “specific hotel room” at the Hilton and remained there overnight, according to court documents reviewed by NBC News.
When he was arrested, the newly unsealed probable cause affidavit revealed that he was in possession of a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38-caliber pistol.
According to firearm transaction records reviewed by law enforcement, he purchased the shotgun from a dealer in California around August 17, 2025. He acquired the pistol from a dealer in a different city in California on October 6, 2023, NBC News noted.
Shortly before the alleged attack, authorities said Allen sent a written manifesto to members of his family describing an intent to target President Donald Trump and other Cabinet officials.
Investigators allege that within about 30 minutes of the gala beginning, Allen entered the hotel lobby carrying the shotgun and handgun, along with some knives, then breached security barricades positioned one floor above the VIP-filled International Ballroom at the Washington Hilton, Fox News said.
“One Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire in a ballistic vest, and Allen was subsequently tackled by officers and taken into custody,” said the Fox reported. “Allen was not injured, but was transported to a hospital to be evaluated. The Secret Service agent was also taken to receive medical treatment and is recovering.”
In his manifesto, Allen sharply criticized Trump, falsely accusing him of being a “rapist” and “pedophile,” while also announcing he wanted to target several members of the president’s administration. He also apologized to his parents, friends, and students for his actions but indicated he felt he had some moral obligation to act.