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A 31-year-old California man, Cole Tomas Allen, appeared in a Washington federal court on Monday, facing charges for the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
The incident occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, a high-profile gathering of journalists and politicians.
Prosecutors revealed that Allen, who holds a master’s degree in computer science, travelled from Torrance to the capital by train and was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and three knives at the time of his arrest.
The court hearing detailed a disturbing premeditated plan.
Officials stated that Allen had booked a room at the Hilton hotel, where the event was held, and left a manifesto behind.
“Today, the Department of Justice filed three federal charges in United States District Court against Cole Tomas Allen,” says @DAGToddBlanche.
“The first count is attempted assassination of the President of the United States. This count is punishable by up to life in prison. The… pic.twitter.com/mlPckLCeqd
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 27, 2026
In the document, he reportedly referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and outlined intentions to target senior members of the Trump administration.
The shooting caused immediate chaos in the ballroom, forcing attendees to seek cover and prompting security to rush the president off stage as law enforcement subdued the suspect near a security perimeter.
In addition to the assassination charge, Allen faces counts of discharging a firearm during a violent crime and illegal interstate firearm transport.
While defence attorneys noted that Allen has no prior criminal record, he has been ordered to remain in custody pending further hearings.
The White House has characterised the event as the third major attempt on the president’s life, sparking renewed debates over political rhetoric and the security protocols protecting high-ranking U.S. officials.
