Pirro Confirms Allen’s Bullet Hit Secret Service Agent at WHCD
CNBC reported Sunday that U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has confirmed new ballistics evidence in the Cole Allen WHCD shooting case. The evidence directly links Allen’s weapon to a Secret Service agent who was struck during the attack.
Pirro Identifies the Source of the Agent’s Injury
Pirro made the disclosure during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” She said forensic examination of the agent’s protective vest recovered a buckshot pellet. That pellet was traced to the Mossberg pump-action shotgun Cole Tomas Allen allegedly carried into the Washington Hilton on the night of the attack.
Prior to Pirro’s statement, prosecutors had not publicly named whose projectile struck the agent. “It is definitively his bullet,” Pirro told CNN. She added that Allen intended to kill anyone standing between him and the president.
Federal prosecutors have charged Allen with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump. A separate charge covers the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Authorities have indicated additional charges remain possible as the investigation continues.
Background on the Attack
The shooting occurred at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last weekend. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and numerous senior administration officials were in attendance at the Washington Hilton when Allen allegedly attempted to breach the ballroom. The agent who was hit was not seriously injured thanks to his protective vest.
Prosecutors describe the incident as the third attempt on Trump’s life since 2024. Allen, 31, from California, has been held without bond since the night of the attack. He waived his right to contest his detention at a hearing last Thursday.
Also Read: Trump Tells Congress Iran Hostilities Have Terminated at War Powers Deadline
Jail Conditions Draw Judicial Concern
Allen’s attorneys filed an emergency motion Saturday seeking removal of their client from suicide precautions. They argued the placement amounted to punishment under the Due Process Clause. Allen had shown no signs of suicidal behavior, the lawyers wrote.
The precautions were lifted Sunday, rendering the emergency motion moot. Attorneys then sought to cancel a scheduled Monday hearing. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui denied that request, however. The judge cited “grave concerns” over what he described as the defendant’s seemingly unprompted solitary confinement and overall conditions of custody.
The ballistics confirmation is expected to bolster the government’s case substantially. Whether the finding will produce new criminal counts against Allen remains unclear.
Read Next: Trump Declares Iran Hostilities Over as War Powers Deadline Passes
