New Ballistics Evidence Links Allen’s Shotgun to Agent Hit at WHCD Attack
CNBC reported Sunday that U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has disclosed new ballistics evidence linking suspect Cole Tomas Allen directly to a Secret Service agent wounded during last month’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner attack.
Pirro Confirms Cole Allen Ballistics Evidence on Television
Pirro made the disclosure during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” She said forensic testing confirmed a buckshot pellet recovered from an agent’s protective vest came from the Mossberg pump-action shotgun Allen allegedly carried. The agent was not seriously injured. Until Pirro’s statement, prosecutors had not publicly identified whose round struck the agent. “It is definitively his bullet,” Pirro told CNN, adding that Allen intended to kill anyone standing between him and the president. Whether the new finding will produce additional charges remains unclear. Prosecutors had previously warned further charges were possible.
What Allen Already Faces in Federal Court
Allen, 31, of California, has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump and with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The alleged attack at the Washington Hilton last weekend was attended by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and numerous senior administration officials. Authorities have described the incident as the third attempt on Trump’s life since 2024. Allen has remained in federal custody since his arrest on the night of the shooting and waived his right to challenge detention on Thursday.
Background: The WHCD Attack and Its Aftermath
The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has historically been a high-security media and political gathering. Video stills released by prosecutors showed Allen moving through security before the alleged assault. The incident prompted immediate scrutiny of protective protocols at large events hosting senior government officials. Federal prosecutors held a public briefing the following Monday, featuring Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Pirro, and FBI Director Kash Patel.
Allen Removed From Suicide Precautions After Court Filing
In a parallel development Sunday, Allen was released from suicide precautions at his detention facility. His legal team filed an emergency motion Saturday arguing the restrictions were unjustified. Attorneys wrote that Allen had shown no signs of suicidality and that the confinement conditions violated his due-process rights. The emergency motion was withdrawn once the precautions were lifted. However, Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui declined to cancel a scheduled Monday hearing. The judge cited “grave concerns” about Allen’s extended solitary confinement and overall detention conditions.
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