New charge filed against alleged correspondents' dinner gunman
by Darryl Coote · UPIMay 6 (UPI) -- A federal grand jury has returned an indictment adding an additional assault charge against Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during an attack at last month's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., was initially charged April 27 with attempting to assassinate the president, discharging a firearm with intent to commit a felony and transporting a firearm in interstate commerce.
On Tuesday, a fourth count of assaulting an officer or employee of the United States with a deadly weapon was added to the list of charges, according to the indictment.
"Today's indictment underscores a simple truth: there is evidence this defendant intended to assassinate the president and that he shot a U.S. Secret Service officer after he traversed the country with a cache of ammunition to accomplish his goals," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in a statement.
Allen is accused of storming a U.S. Secret Service security checkpoint located a floor above where the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner was being held the night of April 25 at the Washington Hilton. Trump and other members of his administration were present.
A U.S. Secret Service agent was shot in the incident, but suffered relatively minor injuries. He was wearing a bullet-resistant vest when he was shot. Allen was arrested at the scene.
The new charge appears to address confusion following last month's indictment against Allen over who shot the agent. Federal prosecutors had said that Allen allegedly shot the Secret Service agent with a 12-gauge shotgun while storming the magnetometer at the security checkpoint, but the initial court document only stated a loud gunshot was heard and that a Secret Service agent had been shot.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had said authorities believed Allen shot the federal agent but ballistics were still being examined.
In the four-count indictment announced Tuesday, federal prosecutors allege that "Allen did knowingly and by means and use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, that is a shotgun, forcibly assault, intimidate and interfere with V.G., an officer and employee of the United States, while V.G. was engaged in his official duties."
"The facts of this case are clear -- Cole Allen traveled to Washington, D.C., attempting to assassinate President Trump and senior members of his administration, and attacked federal law enforcement in the process -- only stopped by brave security personnel who stood in the way," FBI Director Kash Patel said.
Allen faces up to life in prison if convicted of the attempted assassination charge.
Scenes from the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington on April 25, 2026. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo