OAN Staff Addie Davis
9:48 AM – Monday, May 11, 2026
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) suspected shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, pleaded not guilty to all four counts in federal court.
Allen, 31 years old, was indicted on four charges for the April 25th shooting, including attempted assassination of the president of the United States, as well as assault of an officer or employee of the U.S. with a deadly weapon and two other firearm-related charges. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
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On Monday, the suspect appeared in court shackled and his defense attorney entered the plea on his behalf, media outlets reported.
Following gunshots at the WHCD, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and administration officials were evacuated from the Washington Hilton ballroom.
Video footage showed the suspect charging a security station before secret service agents apprehended him. Multiple weapons, including knives and guns, were allegedly found on his person.
Shortly before the attack, a manifesto was reportedly shared to Allen’s family members, which outlined plans to target Trump administration officials. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel was omitted from the list.
In a detention memo filed by the Department of Justice, provided by ABC-affiliated KTXS 12, the defendant possessed two firearms at the time of his arrest, including a “12-gauge pump-action shotgun” and a “.38 caliber pistol.”
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