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New Evidence Proves White House Dinner Shooter Shot Secret Service Officer
Investigators say the shooter at a Washington media gala attended by President Trump fired the shot that hit a Secret Service officer, with forensic evidence tying the pellet to the defendant, Cole Allen. The findings were announced by a federal prosecutor on May 3, 2026, alongside references to released security footage.
Why It Matters
The finding establishes accountability for an attack aimed at officials guarding the president and highlights how forensic analysis is used in high-profile investigations.
Timeline
3 Events
Prosecutor says evidence confirms shooter fired the shot; video footage released
May 3, 2026
U.S. federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro said investigators can definitively say the pellet from buckshot fired by the defendant's Mossberg shotgun was intertwined with the fiber of the Secret Service officer's vest, showing it was the defendant's bullet. Investigators released some security camera footage of Allen at a Washington hotel and an angle of the incident from above the gala; Pirro noted more video would be released in the future.
Allen tackled and arrested shortly after the breach
April 25, 2026
Cole Allen was tackled and arrested by security forces almost immediately after the charge at the security checkpoint. Authorities say he has not entered a plea.
Gunman breaches security at Washington media gala; incident on floor above event
April 25, 2026
During the Washington media gala attended by President Donald Trump, Cole Allen allegedly charged through a security checkpoint with multiple weapons. Investigators say a Secret Service officer wearing protective gear was shot during the incident on a floor above the gala, and at least one Secret Service agent fired back.