Prosecutors Detail Alleged Plot to Shoot at White House Dinner

Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination, which carries a potential life sentence. The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton hotel during the annual event attended by President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members, and over 2,500 guests.

, leading to an exchange of gunfire. A Secret Service agent was shot but uninjured due to a bulletproof vest, according to Washington police chief Jeffery Carroll.

Prosecutors, led by U.S.

m. in Allen's hotel room, depicting him in a black suit with a semi-automatic handgun, pump-action shotgun, three knives, ammunition, pliers, and wire cutters strapped to his body. The weapons match those recovered after the attack. Surveillance footage shows Allen discarding a long black coat concealing the shotgun before rushing the checkpoint.

He sprinted through a metal detector holding the weapon raised, according to the filing. Prosecutors allege Allen fired the shotgun, though some reviews of footage indicate no discharge from him; a Secret Service officer fired four shots in response.

Court documents reveal emails and notes allegedly written by Allen minutes before the attack. One email stated he was unwilling to permit a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor' to continue, outlining rules for the attack and prioritizing targets from highest-ranking administration officials downward.

“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes." — Alleged email from Cole Tomas Allen, April 25 (The Guardian). A postscript letter from his hotel room described weak security protocols and signed off as 'Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen.' Prosecutors noted Allen's online pseudonyms like 'coldForce' and '@CForce3000' on platforms including X, YouTube, Twitch, and Steam, where his posts shifted from gaming to political commentary after Trump's 2024 election. Archived posts, as reported by CNN, compared Trump to Adolf Hitler, encouraged gun purchases, and advocated nullifying the 2024 election results. Allen purchased one firearm in October 2023 and the shotgun in August 2025, per firearm records.”

Travel and Timeline Allen, a tutor from Torrance, California, left home on April 21, traveling by train to Chicago then to Washington. Notes on his phone detailed observations during the trip, such as desert landscapes and wind turbines. Prosecutors allege he checked websites for live coverage of the dinner and confirmed the president's attendance in the half-hour before the attack.

The filing argues for detention, citing the premeditated and violent nature of the actions. Additional charges include interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence, each with a maximum 10-year sentence.

Allen appeared in federal court on Monday and has not entered a plea on all counts.

Gunfire prompted the evacuation of Trump, Vance, and others from the ballroom. No other injuries were reported. Prosecutors stated there are no conditions that would assure community safety if Allen were released. ' Since Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, his posts grew increasingly political.

The motion emphasizes the risk of flight and danger posed by Allen, who faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years if convicted on certain charges. Multiple sources confirmed the selfies were taken shortly before Allen left his room. The government alleges he intended to target administration officials, adding he would go through others if necessary.

This event marks a significant security breach at a high-profile gathering. Allen's alleged preparations spanned months, with firearms acquired over two years. Prosecutors highlighted the alias 'coldForce' as potentially linked to his gaming interests, contrasting with his role as a high school tutor.