In newly released Justice Department footage from the April 25, 2026, White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, a police K9 is seen following suspect Cole Tomas Allen into a side room seconds before he charged a security checkpoint and fired at Secret Service agents. The video, released Thursday, provides the clearest view yet of the failed assassination attempt on President Trump.
The footage, posted by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, captures the incident at the Washington Hilton around 8:36 p.m. ET, shortly after Trump arrived at 8:27 p.m. The K9 trails Allen into a side room, where he sheds a jacket concealing his Mossberg 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. The handler pauses for about 10 seconds before leaving, after which Allen sprints through a checkpoint as agents were dismantling metal detectors. He fires one round, striking a Secret Service agent in the bulletproof vest. The agent returns fire five times, missing Allen, who falls and is subdued 355 feet from the ballroom.
Prosecutors also released video of Allen scouting the hotel the previous day, walking hallways and checking the gym. Minutes before the attack, he posted a manifesto online as a 'Friendly Federal Assassin,' targeting Trump officials and calling Trump a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor.' His Bluesky posts echoed liberal views, criticizing Trump and Republicans.
Allen, already charged with attempted assassination and facing life in prison, waived his right to a detention hearing Thursday. His lawyers called the case speculative, as writings did not explicitly name Trump. Secret Service Director Sean Curran defended the 'perfect' perimeter security, while retired agent Scot Bryan praised the elite response. Trump and officials commended agents amid criticism of the setup.
