WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors say new ballistic evidence has strengthened the case against Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old California man accused of opening fire during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, deepening scrutiny of an alleged attack that rattled one of Washington’s highest-profile political and media events, May 4, 2026.
The evidence, according to prosecutors, links a buckshot pellet found in a Secret Service officer’s bullet-resistant vest to the shotgun Allen allegedly carried during the incident. The officer was protected by the vest and was not seriously injured, but the finding is now central to prosecutors’ argument that the shooting was not the result of confusion or friendly fire.
New evidence in the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said forensic testing showed the pellet came from Allen’s weapon, a development first detailed in Reuters’ report on the newly disclosed ballistic evidence. Prosecutors say Allen fired during an attempt to breach security outside the dinner, where President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Cabinet officials, journalists and other guests were gathered.
Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He has not entered a plea.
The Associated Press reported that investigators said the pellet was recovered from the Secret Service officer’s vest, helping answer one of the key questions that emerged after the shooting: whether the officer had been struck by Allen’s gunfire or by another source amid the chaotic response. The AP account of the forensic findings said authorities now attribute the impact to Allen’s shotgun.
Earlier charging documents set the foundation
The latest evidence builds on the Justice Department’s initial case, announced two days after the April 25 incident. In its April 27 charging announcement, the department said Allen was accused of attempting to assassinate the president and carrying firearms and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony.
That earlier filing provided the first formal outline of the government’s theory: that Allen traveled to Washington armed and prepared, then tried to move through a security area outside the ballroom. Prosecutors have described the case as premeditated, while investigators continue reviewing evidence collected from the hotel, Allen’s travel history and materials linked to him.
The case also drew attention because of Allen’s background and the path authorities say he took before the incident. CBS News previously reported details about Allen’s travel and hotel stay, citing law enforcement sources who said he had checked into the Washington Hilton before the dinner and was seen on surveillance video leaving a hotel room carrying weapons.
Video release added pressure to the case
The government’s evidence has expanded beyond charging papers. Federal authorities released surveillance footage showing the alleged confrontation near the event security area, an unusual step that came as public questions mounted over how an armed suspect got so close to a major event attended by the president and senior officials.
The FBI posted video released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, saying it showed the alleged shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, April 25. The footage has become part of the broader public record as prosecutors seek to show Allen’s movement near the screening area and investigators examine the security response.
Security experts and former law enforcement officials have also focused on the venue itself. The Washington Hilton has long hosted the dinner, drawing presidents, senior officials, lawmakers, journalists and celebrities into a single location. The shooting has renewed questions about perimeter security, hotel access and how public-facing events should be protected when a sitting president is present.
Continuity of concerns after a high-profile attack
The case has moved quickly, but each report has added a new layer. Initial accounts described a shooting outside the ballroom and a rapid law enforcement response. The Justice Department then filed charges alleging an assassination attempt. CBS News and other outlets filled in details about the suspect’s background and travel. The FBI video release added visual evidence. Now, the ballistic finding gives prosecutors a physical link between Allen’s alleged weapon and the injured officer.
That progression matters because the case is still in an early stage. Allen remains presumed innocent unless convicted, and defense attorneys will have the opportunity to challenge the government’s evidence in court. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have signaled that the investigation is continuing and that additional charges could follow.
The White House Correspondents Dinner shooting has already become one of the most serious security incidents tied to a presidential event in recent years. With ballistic evidence now at the center of the case, prosecutors appear to be moving from the broad allegation of an attempted attack toward a more detailed account of what happened in the seconds when gunfire erupted outside the dinner.
