Federal prosecutors have released footage capturing the moment an armed individual allegedly attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with the intent to assassinate President Donald Trump. The video, made public on Thursday by Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor for Washington, depicts Cole Allen Tomas discharging a firearm at a U.S. Secret Service officer while sprinting through security toward the gala, which was filled with journalists, administration officials, and other attendees.
Pirro stated that there is no indication the agent was struck by friendly fire. The incident unfolded on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, where Tomas, armed with a long gun and knives, ran through a magnetometer, disrupting one of the most prominent annual events in the nation's capital.
During a brief federal court appearance on Thursday, Tomas agreed to remain in custody pending trial. He did not enter a plea. Authorities allege that Tomas fired his shotgun at least once, and a Secret Service agent discharged five rounds. The agent, who was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, survived the encounter. Prosecutors have not definitively confirmed that Tomas's bullet struck the agent's vest.
In court documents advocating for Tomas's continued detention, prosecutors revealed that minutes before the attack, Tomas took a selfie in his hotel room, equipped with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster, and a sheathed knife. In a message that investigators believe sheds light on his motive, Tomas referred to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin" and made vague references to grievances regarding various Trump administration actions.
Tomas's legal team initially argued for his release but agreed to detention during the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Moxila Upadhyaya. In a Wednesday court filing, defense attorneys contended that the government's case is "based upon inferences drawn about Mr. Allen's intent that raise more questions than answers," noting that his writings never explicitly mentioned Trump by name. They left open the possibility of seeking release at a later date.
The defense also alleged that statements from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche suggest ballistics evidence may not align with the government's theory. In response, prosecutors asserted that physical evidence, including at least one fragment consistent with a buckshot pellet recovered at the scene, supports their claim that Tomas fired his shotgun in the direction of the Secret Service officer. They stated they are unaware of any evidence contradicting the theory that Tomas fired at the officer, who was hit once in the chest while wearing a ballistic vest.
Tomas, 31, a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer from Torrance, California, faces charges including attempted assassination of the president and two firearms counts. If convicted on the assassination charge alone, he could receive a life sentence.
