US releases CCTV footage: White House dinner shooter storms security, opens fire

The video shows Allen running through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile event was being held.

Dramatic security breach caught on camera

Allen is seen rushing through sensor gates, allegedly firing at a police officer as he moved toward the ballroom where then US President Donald Trump was present.

US Attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, shared the footage on X, stating: “Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”

She added there was no evidence to suggest the shooting was a case of friendly fire.

Suspect surveyed location before attack

According to Pirro, the footage also shows Allen scouting the hotel premises a day before the incident.

“My office, along with the FBI, will continue this extensive investigation to bring Cole Allen to justice,” she said, referring to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

However, the video does not clearly indicate who was injured by the gunfire.

Suspect waives right to challenge detention

Meanwhile, Allen on Thursday told a federal judge he would not, for now, challenge his detention in connection with the attempted assassination.

“He’s conceding detention at this time,” his lawyer, Tezira Abe, told Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya during a hearing in a U.S. District Court in Washington, as reported by CNBC.

Charges against the accused

The 31-year-old California resident faces multiple charges, including attempted assassination of the President, transportation of a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

How was Cole Tomas Allen arrested?

Court documents reveal that Allen had planned the trip. He booked a three-night stay at the Washington Hilton from April 24 to April 26.

He travelled by train from near Los Angeles to Chicago, and then onward to Washington, D.C., arriving on April 24 before checking into the hotel.

At around 8:40 p.m. on the day of the incident, Allen approached a security checkpoint on the Terrace Level leading to the ballroom.

He then ran through the magnetometer carrying a long gun. Secret Service personnel heard a gunshot as he breached the checkpoint.

A Secret Service officer, wearing a ballistic vest, was shot once in the chest.

“The officer drew his service weapon and fired multiple times at Allen, who fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries but was not shot,” the Justice Department said.

Officers subsequently arrested Allen, who was found carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber pistol.