Newly released surveillance footage from the Washington Hilton hotel shows the moments leading up to the arrest of Cole Tomas Allen, the alleged gunman at the White House Correspondents' dinner. The video, shared by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, captures Allen wearing a long dark coat as he walks through the hotel, slipping into a side room while Secret Service agents dismantle a metal detector nearby.
Key Moments in the Footage
The footage reveals that a security guard and a K9 unit briefly investigated Allen but left after a few seconds. Allen then emerged from the room without his coat, holding a 12-gauge shotgun, and sprinted past several guards, who drew their weapons in response. The Department of Justice suggests the video shows Allen firing at a Secret Service member, though this has not been independently verified.
Allen's Movements the Night Before
The video also shows Allen skulking around the hotel the night before the dinner, apparently casing the venue. He walked through corridors and entered the gym, surveying the area. Pirro stated, 'We are releasing video already provided to US District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a US Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President.'
Conflicting Accounts
Despite Pirro's claims, a court memo filed on Wednesday does not mention an officer being shot. US Secret Service Director Sean Curran said Allen was not stopped by agents but tripped on a metal detector box, allowing officers to subdue him. Curran claimed Allen was not hit by any of the five shots fired by an agent, though the Washington Post reports only four shots were fired.
Charges and Aftermath
Allen faces charges of attempting to assassinate the US president, transportation of firearms to commit a felony, and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He has not entered a plea and remains in federal custody. President Donald Trump and other officials were evacuated from the dinner as shots rang out, reviving concerns about political violence in the United States.
