On Monday, court filings revealed that Cole Allen, the man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, had purchased firearms in 2023 and 2025 and traveled by train from the West Coast to Washington.
The unsealed filings included a criminal complaint charging Allen with three offenses and a seven-page affidavit by an FBI agent. These documents were made public after Allen’s initial appearance in federal court.
He is facing charges of discharging a firearm during a violent crime, transporting a firearm across state lines to commit a felony, and attempting to assassinate the president.
According to the affidavit, Allen had made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton, where the event was held, and arrived in Washington after traveling from Los Angeles by train. The affidavit also mentioned that Allen was aware that President Trump would be in attendance based on social media posts.
The incident occurred when Allen allegedly bypassed security and ran through a metal detector with a gun, resulting in a shot being fired. A Secret Service officer was hit in the chest, but it is unclear who fired the shot that struck him.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that law enforcement fired five shots during the incident, but he did not confirm whether the shot that hit the officer came from Allen’s gun.
Footage from news sources indicated that the initial shots were fired around 8:34 p.m. Allen was arrested with a shotgun and a pistol, both purchased legally from dealers in California.
Prior to the incident, Allen sent a manifesto-like email explaining his motives to his family and former employer. The email was signed with his online alias, “Cold Force.” Authorities found additional writings at his residence in California and in his hotel room in D.C.
Despite the chaotic situation, President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other officials were safely evacuated, and none of them were harmed. The Secret Service officer who was shot has been released from the hospital.
