US Attorney Pirro says agent 'definitely' shot by DC press dinner shooting suspect

May 03, 2026 Vincento Seyarto
US Attorney Pirro says agent 'definitely' shot by DC press dinner shooting suspect

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that the bullet that struck a Secret Service agent in the shooting at theWhite House Correspondents' Association dinnerwas "definitely" from suspect Cole Tomas Allen's gun.

USA TODAY

“We now can establish that a pellet that came from the buckshot, from the defendant’s Mossberg pump action shotgun, was intertwined with the fiber of the vest of the Secret Service officer,” Pirro said inan interview with CNN's Jake Tapperon May 3 on "State of the Union."

USA TODAY previously reportedthat evidence collected so far indicates the only Secret Service agent who actually fired their weapon at Allen was the one who was injured as he tried to prevent what prosecutors allege was an attempted assassination onPresident Donald Trump. The agent, who has not been identified, fired five times but did not hit the suspect.

Initial court filingsdid not specifically allege that Allen shot the agent, though Trump and administration officials haveclaimed that he did in public comments.

"That is interesting and noteworthy because what it shows is the government does not yet have conclusive proof that the suspect did shoot the agent," Mark Lesko, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York,told the BBC on May 1.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro speaks during a press conference about the shooting that happened at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner where U.S. President Donald Trump was present, at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2026.

Sean Curran, director of the Secret Service, said all the evidence indicates the agent was shot at "point-blank range" with a shotgun by the suspect in an April 30 interview on "The Will Cain Show" on Fox News.

Allen currently facesassassination and firearm charges, though Pirro said in the "State of the Union" interview that the Department of Justice will go before a grand jury on May 8, where further charges could be filed.

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Suspect's lawyers seek to have him removed from suicide protocols

Lawyers forAllenare seeking to have him removed from "suicide precautions" at the Washington, DC jail where he is being held.

The emergency motion –filed in DC federal court on May 2– states that anurse at the jailrecommended Allen be placed on “suicide watch” on April 28, despite a Department of Corrections intake team not noting any suicide risks.

The document states that lawyers for Allen were told on April 28 he would be put "in a regular cell by Thursday or Friday of that week." On April 29, Allen was reassessed and recommended for "suicide prevention" protocol, despite "no suicide factors or indications" being observed, according to the motion.

<p style=Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

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Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton in the middle of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after loud bangs were heard, in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (C) is escorted out of a safe room after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. Agents escort people out of the Washington Hilton after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. An agent draws his gun after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. A Secret Service officer directs people outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Attendees exit the venue after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. FBI agents stand outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on April 25 night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. Tactical teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump had been sitting before he was evacuated. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) stands outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Marshalls walk through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. 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Trump officials evacuate White House press dinner amid reported shooting

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire duringthe annual White House Correspondents' Association dinnerin Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.Trumpand first ladyMelania Trumpwere evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

"Suicide prevention" protocols prevent an inmate from visiting or contacting anyone that is not a part of their legal team and only allow for an inmate to leave their cell for legal visits and escorted showers, according to the filing.

"These conditions are excessive restrictions on his liberty that serve no justifiable purpose and depriveMr. Allen of dignity while incarcerated," the motion reads. Allen's lawyers further argued that the conditions hinder him from participating in his defense.

A hearing on Allen's holding conditions is scheduled on the court docket for 12 p.m. ET on May 4. USA TODAY has reached out to Allen's lawyers for further comment.

Contributing: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DC press dinner shooting suspect 'definitely' shot agent: US Attorney

 

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