Video released by the Justice Department on Thursday captured White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen crashing through a metal detector at the Washington Hilton.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, whose office is prosecuting Allen for the failed assassination of President Donald Trump, shared the video footage of Allen charging through a ballroom security checkpoint with what appears to be a rifle in his hands.
Pirro commented on X, “Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. There is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly fire. The video also shows Allen casing the area in the Hilton Hotel the day before the attack.”
Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
There is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly… pic.twitter.com/a8gRXkW6BH
— US Attorney Pirro (@USAttyPirro) April 30, 2026
A troubling aspect of the video is that, with the exception of one officer, nearly a dozen other law enforcement officers, including those with the Secret Service, were caught flatfooted and failed to react in a reasonable time to stop Allen’s mad dash. Equally troubling, Cole was not shot even though a Secret Service officer fired five times at nearly point-blank range. Allen was apprehended after he tripped and fell.
The video also indicates that a Secret Service K9 unit alerted on Allen, but the handler pulled the dog off as it was tracking him into a separate room, which is where Allen produced his weapon before charging the gate. As shots ring out, the dog handler retreats in the opposite direction of the action.
A K9 appeared to be suspicious of White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen but was pulled away just seconds before Allen charged through security.
The dog was seen following Allen through a doorway but was pulled back by its handler.
Immediately after the… pic.twitter.com/fI8DeNRl7r
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 1, 2026
The dog knew. Everyone else in this video needs to be fired. pic.twitter.com/oyrAYTlTVQ
— Spitfire (@RealSpitfire) May 1, 2026
Trump praised the Secret Service for their rapid response after the incident, describing agents as “great people” who acted like “linebackers” to move him to safety. At the same time, journalists, including Fox News’ Bill Melugin, commented on what they saw as lax security outside the event.
Allen is charged with trying to assassinate Trump, transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
“All the evidence that I’ve seen: The suspect shot our officer, point-blank range, with a shotgun. Our officer, heroically, returned fire while being shot … in the chest,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show.”
The resounding opinion on social media was that a lot of people tasked with protecting the president that night need to be fired — here’s a sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
these 3 FUCKING STOOGES right here SHOULD BE FIRED WITHOUT QUESTION.
Completely unacceptable! pic.twitter.com/Rc6zUQdBMx— Trey Campos (@1badh0mbr3) May 1, 2026
I want to know why the officer pulled the dog back after he did his job pulling towards Cole. Then, he let the gunman in the room, AND turned to run away after Cole ran out? He needs to be investigated immediately.
— KJ 🇺🇸 (@UnFazedChic) May 1, 2026
Secret Service fired fives times close range missing all shots, Secret Service fired five shots close range in Florida at assassin hiding in bushes missing all shots. think Secret Service is in serious need of firearms training and training staying calm in stressful situations.
— RealFrankMcCallSr (@FrankMcCallSr) May 1, 2026
It’s obviously not friendly fire, you can see Cole pointing the weapon at the officer. pic.twitter.com/AXspXAVwyy
— Right Side And Free (@rightsidefreee) April 30, 2026
1 out of 11 … 😬 pic.twitter.com/3DgzLDW1gs
— Chris Musselman (@TakeRightTurn) May 1, 2026
At some point failure is too generous. Repeated close calls around Trump start looking like people in charge who either do not care enough to stop it, or are perfectly comfortable letting the danger get closer every time.
— Dan Holbrook (@DanHolbrook) May 1, 2026
A LOT of people need to be fired.
No one’s protecting our President.
Mr. Secretary, @SecWar, should we have Special Ops soldiers watching our President’s back?
— Hope d’Amore (@10ATexan) May 1, 2026
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.