Washington: The gunman who opened fire at the media party ran past officers in 4 seconds. New video footage has been released showing the suspect in the shooting at the White House Press Association dinner last Saturday night running from a hotel door through a security checkpoint in just four seconds.
According to Thai News Agency, new CCTV footage released by U.S. prosecutors on Thursday shows 31-year-old suspect Cole Thomas Allen rushing out of his hotel room at the Washington Hilton and charging through a security checkpoint armed with a rifle while President Donald Trump was attending a White House Correspondents' Association dinner in the hotel ballroom last Saturday night. The entire incident took only four seconds. The footage shows Allen speeding through a metal detector while wielding a rifle, catching several officers off guard, before chaos ensued.
After darting past security, Allen attempted to run towards the banquet hall, which required descending another flight of stairs. He fired several shots, one bullet striking a security guard. The bullet penetrated the bulletproof vest, saving the officer's life and preventing serious injury. The officer then returned fire before Allen fell after hitting a metal detector box while trying to escape. He was immediately apprehended by officers. He sustained minor injuries during the arrest but was unharmed by the gunshot wounds.
Earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice released a selfie of Allen inside his hotel room, showing him wearing a black shirt, black slacks, and a red tie, along with a weapons arsenal including a pocket knife, a shoulder holster, and a bag containing a large quantity of ammunition. The photo is believed to have been taken around 8:03 PM local time last Saturday, approximately half an hour before he stormed the security checkpoint. Prosecutors stated that Allen had planned the attack for weeks, traveling by train from California to Washington and checking into the hotel the day before to scout the area. He also reportedly checked President Donald Trump's travel schedule online on the day of the incident.
Allen has been charged with attempted assassination of the president, smuggling firearms and ammunition across state lines with criminal intent, and using firearms in a violent act, after appearing in federal court for the first time last Monday. If convicted on the attempted assassination charge, he could face life imprisonment. The court ordered Allen to remain in custody without bail, citing that he poses a serious danger to the community and others. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11.
This incident marks the third attempt to harm President Trump since 2024 and took place in the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.