Thread by @realjusthuman

United States v. Allen

On April 25, 2026, at around 8:40pm, Cole Tomas Allen rushed a USSS security checkpoint in the D.C. Hilton, blowing past the magnetometer and firing a blast from his 12-gauge shotgun into the chest of a USSS officer.

Down the hall and one floor below was the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. In attendance were hundreds of media and many members of the Trump Administration, including cabinet members, the VP, and President Trump.

But Allen, thankfully, never made it to that room.

Just seconds after discharging his shotgun and only a dozen or so steps past the agent he had shot, Allen fell to the ground, was tackled by USSS agents, disarmed, and arrested.

Today, Allen was charged by complaint with the following:

18 U.S.C. § 1751(c) - Attempt to Assassinate the President of the United States

18 U.S.C. § 924(b) - Transportation of a Firearm & Ammunition in Interstate Commerce with Intent to Commit a Felony

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii) - Discharge of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence

Allen also had 1911 .38 caliber pistol on him.

Agents fired several shots at him, but he was not shot. The complaint doesn't describe how Allen fell, but...ya know, Naruto-style running only works in cartoons.

I think Allen may have simply tripped.

Allen made his reservations at the hotel on April 6 and traveled by train from LA to Chicago to D.C. beginning on April 21.

He arrived on April 24 and checked into the Hilton.

Before Allen made his assassination attempt, he scheduled an email to go out that explained what he was trying to do and why.

Titled “Apology and Explanation,” the email makes it clear that Allen intended to "target" members of the Trump Administration with his weapons.

He describes his reasoning for choosing buckshot rather than slugs and explains his "rules of engagement" and upon what basis he will prioritize targets.

The affidavit is here

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…