Washington — New court documents unsealed after Cole Allen’s initial federal court appearance provide a more detailed timeline of the alleged attempt to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The filings include a criminal complaint charging Allen with three offenses and a seven-page FBI affidavit.
Prosecutors say Allen is charged with discharging a firearm during a violent crime, transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and attempting to assassinate the president. The affidavit and complaint say Allen booked a three-night stay at the Washington Hilton on April 6 — the hotel that hosted the annual press event — and that he likely knew President Trump would attend after the president publicly accepted the invitation in March.
The FBI affidavit traces Allen’s movements to the capital. It says he left Los Angeles by train on April 21, reached Chicago two days later, then continued by rail to Washington, D.C., arriving around 1 p.m. on Friday and checking in at the Hilton.
According to the affidavit, at roughly 8:40 p.m. Allen “approached and ran through the magnetometer holding a long gun,” and agents reported Secret Service personnel at the security checkpoint heard a loud gunshot. A Secret Service officer identified in the filing only as “Officer V.G.” was struck once in the chest while wearing a ballistic vest. The affidavit does not specify whether that round came from Allen’s weapon.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters law enforcement appears to have fired five rounds, but he declined to confirm whether the bullet that hit the Secret Service officer was fired by Allen. The affidavit states Officer V.G. drew his weapon and fired “multiple times” at Allen. It says Allen fell to the ground and sustained minor injuries; the document adds Allen was not shot.
Video captured by CBS reporters in attendance and a C-SPAN camera shows the first shots were fired at about 8:34 p.m., the filings say.
When taken into custody, Allen was found with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38-caliber pistol. The FBI says Allen purchased the pistol from a California dealer in October 2023 and bought the shotgun from a different dealer in August 2025.
Shortly before the alleged breach, the affidavit says an email described by investigators as a “manifesto” was sent to members of Allen’s family and a former employer that explained the planned attack. The message reportedly was signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen”; agents noted Allen had used the alias “cold force” on multiple online accounts. Authorities said they recovered a file titled “Apology and Explanation” attached to that email as well as writings found at Allen’s Torrance, California, residence and in his room on the 10th floor of the Washington Hilton. The affidavit did not include detailed excerpts from those materials.
President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and many Cabinet officials, members of Congress, journalists and media executives were among the attendees evacuated from the ballroom; none were injured. The Secret Service officer who was wounded was treated and released from the hospital.
The unsealed complaint and affidavit provide prosecutors’ current allegations; an investigation is ongoing and the matters remain subject to court proceedings and potential further disclosures.
By Jacob Rosen
Updated on: April 27, 2026 / 7:43 PM EDT