Story perspectives

Man Fires Shot Outside White House Dinner, Detained

5/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

Cole Allen fired a shot outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, prompting a Secret Service agent to recover a casing.
He rode a train from his California hometown to Washington carrying a shotgun, a .38-caliber pistol, knives and daggers.
Allen consented to stay detained while his federal case proceeds.
Prosecutors highlighted an email in which Allen called U.S. President Donald Trump a traitor, urging targeting officials by rank.

History

Historical Context

Samuel Byck’s February 22, 1974 hijacking plot—where he killed an airport officer, wounded pilots and planned to crash a DC-9 into the White House—prompted tighter aviation security and expanded Secret Service authority. Decades later, on April 25, 2024, Cole Allen fired up to eight shots outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, echoing Byck’s legacy of direct attacks on the presidential residence.

1 of 2

Story summary

Cole Allen fired a shot outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, prompting a Secret Service agent to recover a casing.
He rode a train from his California hometown to Washington carrying a shotgun, a .38-caliber pistol, knives and daggers.
Allen consented to stay detained while his federal case proceeds.
Prosecutors highlighted an email in which Allen called U.S. President Donald Trump a traitor, urging targeting officials by rank.

1 / 2