The suspect in the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner has agreed to remain in federal custody while his criminal case proceeds, his attorney confirmed during a detention hearing April 30.
Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, faces three federal charges, including attempted assassination of the president, after authorities say he rushed a security checkpoint near the Washington Hilton ballroom, where President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other administration officials were attending the annual event. Allen was armed with a shotgun, pistol, and multiple knives, according to prosecutors. He was taken into custody after tripping and falling, before he could enter the ballroom.
According to CBS News, during the April 30 hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, Allen’s attorney said he would not contest the government's request to keep him detained pending further proceedings.
Prosecutors argued in an April 29 filing that Allen should remain detained, saying the charges against him are “among the most serious in the United States code, and the evidence of his guilt is overwhelming,” according to CBS News. The filing also alleged Allen spent weeks planning the attack and included a more detailed timeline of his movements before the dinner.
Tezira Abe, a lawyer for Allen, told the court that Allen is being held in a “safe cell” under 24-hour lockdown and asked the judge to direct the jail to lift those restrictions, CBS News reported. The judge reportedly said she would consider briefs on the matter but did not have the authority to override jail officials.
Speaking to reporters April 30, President Donald Trump praised his security team for apprehending Allen, saying that they “did a pretty good job” after a reporter noted that there had been “talks about changing” his security team following the incident.
Reporter: “There’s been some talks about changing your security after what took place on Saturday…”
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) April 30, 2026
President Trump: “Well, they did a pretty good job actually. They stopped the NFL running back. I mean, he was like a running back. In fact, if he ever got out, they're probably… pic.twitter.com/DfaJgzPSgV
Trump also said the Secret Service agent who was shot before Allen was detained was not hit by “friendly fire.”
“They say it was not friendly fire. That’s what I heard,” Trump said, adding, “It wasn’t us.”
NBC News also reported April 29 that three law enforcement officials familiar with the case said investigators believe Allen shot the officer. The news came after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said April 27 that investigators had not yet determined whether the injured agent was struck by Allen or by another agent.